Giants First Baseman Devers Facing Intense Criticism

Veteran slugger's struggles at the plate and in the field have frustrated fans and management.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 8:06pm by

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball player in motion, with their body and the field of play broken down into sharp, overlapping planes of color and shape, conveying the fragmented and frustrating nature of the player's performance.Devers' struggles at the plate and in the field have become a fractured, frustrating reality for the Giants and their fans.San Francisco Today

The San Francisco Giants' offseason acquisition of first baseman Rafael Devers has not gone as planned, as the 29-year-old is batting just .229 with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs through the first 18 games of the 2026 season. Devers' poor offensive production and defensive lapses at first base have drawn sharp criticism from Giants fans and media, compounded by the 10-year, $313.5 million contract he signed with the team.

Why it matters

Devers was brought in to provide a power-hitting presence in the middle of the Giants' lineup, but his struggles have contributed to the team's 6-12 start. The Giants' sizable investment in Devers has increased the pressure, as the team may have to consider moving on from the veteran if his play does not improve.

The details

Devers is hitting just .229 with 2 home runs, 6 RBIs, 7 runs, and 21 strikeouts through 18 games. His defense at first base has also been a major issue, as he has displayed poor range and an inability to pick throws out of the dirt. Some Giants fans believe Devers is unwilling to put in the work to improve his defense, a sentiment echoed by former Red Sox owner Tom Werner, who said Devers' 'unwillingness to play that position was extremely discouraging' when Boston needed him to fill in at first base.

  • Devers has struggled through the first 18 games of the 2026 MLB season.

The players

Rafael Devers

A 29-year-old first baseman for the San Francisco Giants who is batting .229 with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs through the first 18 games of the 2026 season. Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract with the Giants in the offseason.

Tom Werner

The former owner and chairman of the Boston Red Sox, who commented on Devers' 'unwillingness to play' first base when the Red Sox needed him to fill in at the position.

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What they’re saying

“I don't like to speak ill of any player. I'd like to say that he's a wonderful person... But, of course, when we had an injury at first base, his unwillingness to play that position was extremely discouraging... It was a discouraging episode; Just pick up a glove.”

— Tom Werner, Former Red Sox Owner and Chairman

The takeaway

Devers' struggles have put the Giants in a difficult position, as they must weigh whether to continue to support the struggling slugger or explore trade options for the 10-year, $313.5 million contract they signed him to in the offseason. The team's early-season woes have increased the pressure on Devers to turn things around quickly.