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Rafael Devers Under Fire For Refusing to Switch Positions After Teammate's Season-Ending Injury

In what is the second instance of this occurring in the past few months, the Boston Red Sox are unsuccessfully attempting to sell Rafael Devers on a new position.

Following Tristan Casas' season-ending knee injury last week, the Red Sox asked three-time MLB All-Star Rafael Devers to switch from designated hitter to first base. An adjustment that, in theory, should be a seamless transition for Devers, who has played 951 career games at third base.

However, Devers is not only opposed to the request but also told the media after the team's 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday that he doesn't feel it's "appropriate" for the team to make it.

“I know I’m a ballplayer, but at the same time, they can’t expect me to play every single position out there,” Devers said through his translator. “In spring training, they talked to me and basically told me to put away my glove, that I wasn’t going to play any other position but DH, so right now, I just feel like it’s not an appropriate decision by them to ask me to play another position.”

A response that has fans furious with Devers for his unwillingness to sacrifice with his team in need.

"All I’m saying is that this really hurts the guys who would “do anything for the team” or “I can play anywhere” just to see the field because they love the game," wrote one fan.

"For $313 milli I’ll be the goddamn baseball if the Red Sox asked me to," added another.

"Now that’s a team player," joked another.

"Sounds like a team player," commented one user.

"U6 tee-ball type of attitude," said another.

Boston Red Sox designated hitter Rafael Devers (11).

Devers' lack of willingness to switch positions comes after the team essentially forced him to give up third base in spring training following their signing of AL Gold Glove third baseman, Alex Bregman. While he was initially opposed to that idea, Devers has DH'd all 38 games he's played this season.

It's unclear how the team feels at this time, but clearly Devers isn't willing to compromise again.

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