Rafael Devers has given the Giants at least one bright storyline in a season that hasn’t offered many. While San Francisco’s year has been rough enough that a trophy case might stay empty, Devers is making a strong late push for the Silver Slugger and could be lining himself up for something even bigger down the road.
FanSided announced the Louisville Silver Slugger Award winners last year, with the honor going to the top hitter at each position in both leagues as voted on by MLB managers and coaches. The same process will play out again this year, and Devers looks like he has a solid chance to take home the NL award at first base or designated hitter.
That would have sounded far-fetched in April. It doesn’t anymore.
If you strip out that first month, Devers has hit .273 with 33 home runs and 81 runs batted in. Even with April included, the overall line is still eye-catching: .258/.340/.518 with 35 homers and 92 RBIs. He has a real shot to finish with 40 home runs and 100 runs batted in, which would be a serious season by any standard.
The tricky part is that much of this damage has come in games that don’t carry much weight in the standings. Still, Devers has also shown more of the leadership the Giants need while trying to guide a roster full of young players.
That’s where the bigger-picture conversation starts. If Devers can put together a full season that looks like the last month of his production - or simply avoid the kind of April that dragged him down - he could find himself in the MVP mix.
The path is pretty clear from there. A batting average in the .275 range, an OPS at .900 or better, plus 40 or more homers and over 100 RBIs would give him a real case.
Defense at first base would matter too. Players rarely win MVP just because of their bat, so if he can settle in as average or slightly above average in the field, his argument gets stronger.
He may still be a little too streaky to bank on full-season MVP numbers, but if he keeps producing at an All-Star level and helps the Giants get back to the postseason, San Francisco would take that in a heartbeat.
For now, the Silver Slugger would be a strong start. Devers already has two from his time with the Boston Red Sox, and the Giants will need this version of him moving forward, especially if they’re going to be in the playoff conversation again.
In Other News...
Dodgers Just Lost Their Biggest Threat At The Worst Time
The Dodgers are suddenly without Shohei Ohtani at a time when every game carries extra weight, and that matters in a division race that San Francisco has been trying to keep close. Los Angeles placed Ohtani on the 15-day injured list because of injuries to his left knee, right biceps, and neck, a move manager Dave Roberts said the club delayed as long as it could before finally making it.
For the Giants, the timing is notable because Ohtani has been the kind of presence that can alter a series with one swing or one outing, and now the Dodgers will have to navigate the stretch without him. He is not eligible to return until at least Sept. 23, and Roberts confirmed he will not pitch again this season, leaving Los Angeles to adjust on the fly as the calendar tightens. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Bullpen Shakeup May Be Just Getting Started
The Giants kept their bullpen churn going by claiming right-hander Duncan Davitt off waivers from the Braves and clearing space by designating Spencer Bivens for assignment. It was another sign that San Francisco is still sorting through the edges of its relief group, where the mix of roster pressure and uneven results has left little room for patience.
Ryan Walker, Tristan Beck and Seth Lonsway are among the other names that could be pushed into the same conversation as the club tries to keep its 40-man roster workable. For a Giants staff that has been forced to juggle personnel while chasing better late-game reliability, the next move may matter just as much as the last one. [Read more 🡒]
Giants Just Sent Loyal Fans A Telling Late-Season Offer
The Giants are leaning on one of the oldest levers in the business for the final month of the season: rewarding the fans who keep showing up. Season ticket holders are being offered a credit worth 15% of their tickets value for attending select home games down the stretch, a small but notable gesture aimed at keeping the ballpark populated and engaged as the schedule winds down.
There is a little more on the table, too, if the Giants can finish the night with a win, as the credit grows by another 5% and lands in the holders ticketing account for future purchases. The catch is in the fine print, since the offer only applies to tickets actually used by the season ticket holder or forwarded directly to another account, not ones flipped on secondary marketplaces, a detail that tells you exactly which fans the team is trying to reward. [Read more 🡒]