Alex Cora details improved defense for Rafael Devers, Red Sox
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Since returning to the Red Sox prior to 2021, Alex Cora has consistently asserted the value of quality team defense. Boston had plenty of room to improve in this department from 2021, and additions such as Trevor Story and the returning Jackie Bradley Jr. will certainly help.
Defense is especially a priority for Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers. Despite his still-rising offensive talent, his fielding has been an issue.
Devers’ biggest problem is throwing balls away. His UZR/150 (ultimate zone rating per 150 games) improved year-over-year from 2020 to 2021, but he also led all third basemen last season with 10 throwing errors, and has made at least 20 total errors in the last three full seasons.
“It’s the only problem that Raffy has defensively because he has a good arm, a first step, he has range. It’s out conversion,” Cora told 98.5 The Sports Hub’s Tony Massarotti on a podcast for The Baseball Hour. “He will throw the ball away on a great play. In our numbers, he was average or above average in a lot of things, but below average in out conversion.”
Cora says Devers has taken tangible steps so far this spring to improve at the hot corner.
“Talking to Raffy, he made a conscious effort in the offseason to work on his defense as much as he works on his offense,” Cora said. “It’s paying off.”
Cora also addressed the adjustments to training that the Red Sox have made as a team.
“The defensive talk is going to be part of it,” Cora said. ”There are some subtle adjustments that we did. Early on, they didn’t take as many ground balls on the field. It was drill-oriented.”
As Devers’ game continues to develop, Cora also discussed the impact that the 24-year-old is having around the league among his peers.
“When you’re playing games, everyone gravitates to Raffy,” Cora said. “The opposition, they’re in awe with Raffy.”
Devers is under team control through the 2023 season. As a cornerstone player in Boston, a possible contract extension continues to be a question mark on keeping him in a Red Sox uniform – especially if he adds great defense to his bat. Cora hopes that that possibility comes to fruition.
“Hopefully we can get to a point as an organization that we can have this guy for a lot of years,” Cora said.
Devers will look to build upon his first All-Star season in 2021 with a more complete performance in 2022 and beyond.
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