Old Red Sox nemesis says his advice helped improve Rafael Devers’ defense
Manny Machado isn’t in the best graces with Boston Red Sox fans ever since he slid into Dustin Pedroia’s knee in 2017 while a member of the Baltimore Orioles.
But maybe fans will have a different perspective on Machado after the All-Star says he offered some advice to Rafael Devers on how to improve his defense at third base.
Machado, now with the San Diego Padres, has won two Gold Glove Awards and a Platinum Gold Glove at the corner position. Speaking to The Athletic, he says he had the opportunity to pass on some knowledge to Devers at the World Baseball Classic while the two were playing for Team Dominican Republic.
21+ and present in Massachusetts. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.How did he help? Machado said he gave advice to Devers advice throughout the tournament in order to help Devers improve at third base, telling the 26-year-old Red Sox player to “lead with the glove hand” whenever a ball is hit to his left.
“I was telling him the biggest thing defensively, especially at third base, you’ve got to try to catch everything with one hand,” Machado told The Athletic. “He’s like, ‘It’s so hard, you make it look so easy.’ I was like, ‘It’s a process, but if you do it in practice, I think the more you repeat it, the more it comes to you.’”
Devers took the advice to heart and began practicing what
Machado says the Red Sox star began to put the advice to practice during the tournament, despite Devers being a designated hitter in the WBC. Devers has always been known for his offense and the power behind his bat. However, the defensive side of his game has been called into question throughout the course of his career.
The advice has seemed to work so far this season. Devers is in the 80th percentile for outs above average, per Baseball Savant, and looks more confident on the defensive side of the ball. Injuries hindered Devers a bit last year. But if he can stay healthy, it might be a safe bet that Devers will continue the consistency he’s shown through the first two months of the 2023 season.
Machado, who saw a lot of Devers while he was with the Orioles, saw the current state of Devers’ defense first-hand during the Padres’ three-game series against the Red Sox last weekend -- and was in awe of how he handled himself at third.
“He’s grown, every single year he gets better and I think that’s what makes him a true top-10 player in the game, or even top-five,’” Machado told The Athletic. “Just because he comes every single year trying to get better defensively, offensively, walking or whatever. I think he comes in every single year trying to work.”
- Massachusetts online sports betting is live. Learn more about the top sportsbook operators in Mass. such as FanDuel, DraftKings and BetMGM to find the best offers available.
Devers has a chance to continue his growth at third base when the Red Sox begin a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.
