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Rafael Devers' fastball problem is bad news for Giants after Red Sox trade
TL;DR
Rafael Devers, traded from the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants, is struggling significantly with fastballs. His inability to hit fastballs raises concerns for the Giants' future plans.
Key points
- Rafael Devers was traded from the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants.
- Devers is struggling to hit fastballs effectively.
- His performance issues raise concerns for the Giants' future.
San Francisco GiantsBoston Red Sox
Rafael Devers' fastball problem is bad news for Giants after Red Sox trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Rafael Devers was supposed to be the leading hitter for the San Francisco Giants for the next decade.
But about a year after the Boston Red Sox traded Devers away, the lefty slugger isn't hitting much of anything.
There may be one thing that stands out more than anything else as far as Devers is concerned: He's not hitting fastballs.
Fastballs, while they are thrown harder and move more than ever, are still the pitches that most batters have to make their money against.
Devers has been one of baseball's worst against heaters.
"Especially alarming is his struggles against four-seam fastballs -- he’s hitting .146 (6-for-41) with a 51.1% whiff rate and a 59.5% strikeout rate on those pitches this year," MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan wrote in a new article this weekend.
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Q&A
Why is Rafael Devers struggling with fastballs?
Rafael Devers is currently not hitting fastballs effectively, which is a major concern for his performance.
What does Rafael Devers' fastball problem mean for the Giants?
Devers' struggles with fastballs could hinder the San Francisco Giants' offensive strategy and their expectations for his role as a leading hitter.
How did the trade from the Red Sox to the Giants impact Devers' performance?
The trade from the Boston Red Sox to the San Francisco Giants has not improved Devers' performance, as he continues to struggle at the plate.
