Stats Show Rafael Devers Has Hit the Ball Harder Than Anyone Else in MLB
By Parker White
We've been hearing about Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers for years now, but he's finally putting it all together in 2019. In 50 games he's slashing .317/.384/.481 with 6 home runs and 29 RBI, including homers in three straight games at the age of 22 that put him in elite company.
Devers isn't hitting wall-scrapers. The kid is destroying the baseball and leads MLB hitters in batted balls with an exit velocity of 95+ mph, having smacked 83.
.@MLB leaders in batted balls with an exit velocity of 95+ MPH:
— Kyle Montemagno (@KyleMontemagno) May 24, 2019
1. @RedSox Rafael Devers (83)
2. Josh Bell (81)
3. José Abreu (77)
4. Cody Bellinger (76)
T-5. DJ LeMahieu, Tommy Pham (74)
That's amazing considering Devers didn't hit his first home run of the season until the month of May. Yes, hard-hit balls are not always ones that leave the yard, but it gives you an indication of whether or not a hitter is making solid contact, which clearly, Devers is doing.
In 34 games beginning 4/15, @RedSox Rafael Devers has a .348/.408/.561/.969 batting line with 25 runs, 10 doubles, 6 home runs, and 27 RBI.
— Kyle Montemagno (@KyleMontemagno) May 24, 2019
Devers has 5 home runs and 15 RBI in his last 12 games.
Mookie Betts and J.D. Martinez get all the attention in Boston's lineup, but it's time to put Devers in that same light based off his production and how hard he's killing the ball. It took longer than expected, but Devers appears to be a franchise player the Red Sox always envisioned.