The Boston Red Sox placed third baseman Rafael Devers on the injured list and have ruled him out for the remainder of the 2025 season due to shoulder inflammation, via Bob Nightengale of USA Today. The Red Sox called up infielder Mickey Gasper in a corresponding move.
Red Sox All-Star 3B Rafael Devers’ season officially comes to an end, placed on the IL with shoulder inflammation.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) September 21, 2024
Devers had been playing with pain and soreness in his shoulder for nearly two months, ever since he landed on his right shoulder while diving against the Colorado Rockies on July 23. He opted to play through the injury until he was removed during the 11th inning of the Red Sox 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins Friday. Devers had one walk and one hit before he exited the game.
The injury continued to hamper Devers’ performance since July. After hitting a phenomenal .362 in July, Devers’ batting average dropped to .216 in August, and .188 in September before he came out of Friday’s game.
Alex Cora #13 of the Boston Red Sox at the pitchers mound against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 15, 2024 in the Bronx borough of New York City.
Photo by Luke Hales/Getty Images
Devers hit just four home runs in all of August and did not hit any in September and recorded just three RBIs. He was struck out 11 total times over his last four games and clearly was not playing with his normal effectiveness.
“I think overall, injuries aside, he was one of the best hitters, if not the best hitter in the big leagues for two and a half months and it was fun to see,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Saturday, via Keagan Stiefel of NESN. “I know the numbers are the numbers defensively, but he made some improvements in certain areas… I’m disappointed because he’s basically our offense. He is the guy. The last month it’s been hard to watch.”
More Newsweek Sports: Red Sox Hall Of Fame Broadcaster Stuns Audience With Announcement
Earlier in the season, Devers also dealt with an injury to his other shoulder and to his knee. He overcame those early injuries to become an All-Star for the third time in his career. Overall on the season, Devers slashed .272/.354/.516 with 143 hits, 87 runs, 28 home runs, and 83 RBIs before he was pla
With the Red Sox also on the outside looking in the American League playoff race and just eight games remaining in the season, it only made sense to place Devers on the IL. The Red Sox are unlikely to earn a playoff spot, especially with them ranking third in the AL East and four teams in the AL Central already earning eight wins.
For more MLB coverage, make sure to head to Newsweek Sports.
