BOSTON, MA—The Boston Red Sox today signed third baseman Rafael Devers to a 10-year contract extension that spans the 2024-33 seasons.
Chief Baseball Officer Chaim Bloom made the announcement.
Signed by Boston at 16 years old on August 9, 2013, Devers made his Major League debut in July 2017 at 20 years old and served as the Red Sox’ Opening Day starter at third base in each of the next five seasons (2018-22). The 2033 season would be his 17th with the Red Sox; the only players to appear in at least one game for the Red Sox in 15 or more seasons are Carl Yastrzemski (23), Dwight Evans (19), Ted Williams (19), Tim Wakefield (17), Jim Rice (16), and Jason Varitek (15).
Devers, 26, finished in the top 15 in American League Most Valuable Player voting in 2019 (12th), 2021 (11th), and 2022 (14th). A 2021 Silver Slugger Award winner, he was the AL’s starting third baseman in the 2021 and 2022 All-Star Games. In 689 games for the Red Sox (2017-22), Devers has batted .283 (762-for-2,697) with an .854 OPS, 139 home runs, and 455 RBI. He holds the Red Sox franchise record for most extra-base hits at the age of 25 or younger (333), while his 139 home runs at that age rank second in club history behind only Tony Conigliaro (160).
Since the beginning of 2019, Devers leads the majors in doubles (149) and extra-base hits (264) and leads the AL in hits (591) and total bases (1,078). In that time, he also leads the majors in games played at third base (498) and innings played at the position (4,313.0). He is the youngest player in Red Sox history to record 200 or more hits in a season (201 in 2019 at 22 years old), as well as the youngest to record 50 or more doubles in a season (54 in 2019). Devers holds the franchise’s single-season records for a third baseman in home runs (38), doubles (54), extra-base hits (90), and total bases (359). He joins Ted Williams as the only Red Sox players to record multiple seasons of at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI before turning 25 years old.
In 141 games in 2022, Devers led the Red Sox in home runs (27), RBI (88), slugging percentage (.521), OPS (.879), extra-base hits (70), total bases (289), and runs scored (tied, 84), also ranking second in batting average (.295, 164-for-555), on-base percentage (.358), and doubles (42). The Dominican Republic native set a career high in fielding percentage (.964) and led AL third baseman in slugging percentage and OPS. In his final 28 games (beginning September 1), he batted .333 (34-for-102) with a .900 OPS.
A 2018 World Series champion, Devers has hit .303 (27-for-89) with a .955 OPS in 26 career Postseason games, all prior to turning 25 years old. He holds the Major League record for most Postseason RBI at the age of 24 or younger (26) and is tied with Mickey Mantle, Albert Pujols, and Carlos Correa for the most Postseason home runs at that age (eight). Devers is the only player in Major League history with both a grand slam and an inside-the-park home run in the Postseason.
Devers has been named the Red Sox’ winner of the Heart and Hustle Award in each of the last three seasons it was presented by the Major League Baseball Players Alumni Association (2019, ’21-22). He earned the 2018 Greg Montalbano Minor League Player Award and 2019 Tommy Harper Heart and Hustle Award from the Boston Baseball Writers, and he is the youngest Red Sox player ever to be named AL Player of the Month (22 years old in May 2019).
