Next on the list is the other member of the left side of the Red Sox’ infield, Rafael Devers. The Red Sox 22-year-old third baseman has quickly become one of the best young sluggers in the league. Devers made it clear he could hit the ball hard and drive in runs during his first full season in 2018. However, there were questions surrounding his plate discipline.
Devers has put all of those concerns to rest by decreasing his K% from 24.7% in 2018 to 16.2% in 2019, according to Fangraphs. This has lead to a .316/.367/.572 slash line to go along with 29 HRs and an AL-leading 107 RBIs. His 49 doubles are tied for the league lead with his teammate and fellow MVP Candidate Xander Bogaerts.
Like Bogaerts, Devers’ defense is what holds him back. If Devers can improve his defense, he can be a perennial All Star and MVP candidate. He has already shown signs of improvement after being a defensive liability in 2018. He has drastically improved his UZR, raising it from a horrible -4.5 in 2018 to a serviceable 1.8 this season. At only 22, there is no reason to think he won’t continue to improve.