Rafael Devers just had his incredible 309-game consecutive playing streak snapped, with Giants manager Tony Vitello making the call to give his first baseman a much-needed day off on Wednesday. It’s a move that ends one of the longest active streaks in baseball, and it’s all about keeping the reigning NL Player of the Week healthy.
Why Vitello Pulled the Plug on Devers’ Streak
Vitello decided to bench Devers because, frankly, the guy needed a break. Devers has a history of hamstring issues, and despite being on an absolute tear, all those sprints from being on base constantly were starting to add up. The Giants aren’t in contention right now, and with a bunch of veterans already on the injured list, Vitello wanted to play it safe with his star. Devers had a hitless night Tuesday, and with the team getting an off day Thursday, it was the perfect storm for Vitello to double up on rest. “The ideal situation is to have the day today and the day tomorrow,” Vitello said, adding he thinks Devers “hit a little bit of a wall.” He’s a machine on the bases, “our best first-to-third guy, period,” and that kind of effort, plus “all the stress of carrying the offense,” takes its toll. Vitello believes giving him two days can “really serve as beneficial,” even though ending the streak was “massive,” as he put it, he felt “it was time.” Apparently, Devers is “often dealing with some leg issues, playing through everything from toe to hip.”
Devers Was Absolutely Lighting It Up
It’s tough to take a guy out when he’s as hot as Devers has been. He’d been the NL Player of the Week for good reason, scoring 17 runs in his previous 16 games and rocking a ridiculous 1.411 OPS. He’d also crushed nine homers over that same 16-game stretch and is currently just five dingers shy of hitting 40 on the season with 16 games left. Rookie Bryce Eldridge, who bats behind Devers, put it best: “It’s just been ridiculous.” Eldridge said it was “pretty cool to watch from the on-deck circle,” feeling like “every single time he came up to bat, he was either getting walked or he was going to punish a baseball.” He added, “You felt like, ‘All right, he can’t keep doing it,’ and then every single day he just keeps doing something crazier.” Devers’ 309-game streak was actually the third-highest in the game, only behind Matt Olson’s 927 and Pete Alonso’s 562.
More Than Just a Slugger: Devers’ New Role
Beyond the monster numbers, Devers has also stepped up big time as a leader in the second half. Vitello mentioned it’s been “one of the best things I’ve ever experienced as a coach,” seeing Devers embrace that role. He even talked about Devers’ “clubhouse antics” last week in New York that kept the mood light, saying he enjoyed the video so much he sent it to third baseman Matt Chapman. Vitello admitted that probably “needs to stay out of the public eye,” but it shows the fun and the leadership Devers brings. With the team off Thursday, Devers gets a couple of days to recover before getting back in there to chase that 40-homer milestone. Hopefully, that rest helps him finish the season strong.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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