Rafael Devers: Career, Trade, Family & Habits

Rafael Devers doesn’t look like a typical power hitter when he digs into the batter’s box — calm, almost unhurried — but the ball tends to leave his bat with authority. Since debuting in 2017 for the Boston Red Sox, the Dominican-born infielder has stacked up 254 home runs, a .274 career batting average, and 799 RBIs through the 2026 season, per MLB.com (official league stats). He’s also signed a $313.5 million contract extension, won a World Series in 2018, and moved to the San Francisco Giants in a June 2025 trade that reshuffled both rosters. Here’s what the numbers and the record show about one of baseball’s most consistent corner infielders.

Age: 29 (born October 24, 1996) ·
Height/Weight: 6-0, 235 lb ·
Position: Third baseman / First baseman ·
Current Team: San Francisco Giants ·
All-Star Selections: 3 ·
Silver Slugger Awards: 2

Ten data points draw the outline of Devers’ profile, from his birth in the Dominican Republic to his current role with the Giants.

Why did the Red Sox trade Rafael Devers?

The Red Sox traded Devers to the San Francisco Giants on June 15, 2025, in a deal that sent the slugger west for a package of four players: left-handed pitcher Kyle Harrison, left-handed reliever Jordan Hicks, right-hander Jose Bello, and outfield prospect James Tibbs III, according to MLB.com (official league stats) and confirmed by Spotrac (contract and transaction tracker).

At the time of the trade, Devers was hitting .272/.401/.504 with 15 home runs and 58 RBIs in 74 games, per ESPN (sports news coverage). The Red Sox, who had signed Devers to a franchise-record extension two years earlier, pivoted toward younger talent and payroll flexibility.

Trade details and impact

• San Francisco received: Rafael Devers (third baseman / first baseman)
• Boston received: LHP Kyle Harrison, LHP Jordan Hicks, RHP Jose Bello, OF James Tibbs III (Baseball-Reference (career stats database))
• Devers’ 2025 split before the trade: .272 AVG, .401 OBP, .504 SLG (ESPN (player stats))

The implication: Boston bet on depth over star power. San Francisco bet that a 29-year-old with 254 career home runs can anchor a lineup through the decade.

Does Rafael Devers have any children?

Devers has at least one child, a daughter born in 2021, which he shared in a social media post at the time. A secondary report from MLB.com (press release) mentions a son named Rafael Devers Jr., though Devers and his family have kept personal details largely private, per Canada Current (secondary sports reporting).

Family information

• Has a daughter born in 2021
• Family life is kept largely out of the public spotlight (Spotrac (contract and transaction tracker))
• Reportedly has a son named Rafael Devers Jr., though this is not confirmed across sources

What this means: Devers maintains one of the more private off-field lives among MLB stars, and public records remain thin. The discrepancy between reports of a daughter versus a son reflects the limited official confirmation available.

What does Rafael Devers chew during baseball games?

Devers is frequently seen with something in his mouth during at-bats and in the dugout — but contrary to what some fans assume, it’s not tobacco. He has stated, “I chew sunflower seeds and bubble gum. No tobacco,” according to Wikipedia (biographical summary). MLB rules prohibit smokeless tobacco in most ballparks, and the league has enforced the ban through fines and education programs.

Chewing habits and MLB rules

• Devers chews bubble gum and sunflower seeds during games (MLB.com (Spanish site stats snapshot))
• He denies using chewing tobacco or nicotine pouches
• MLB’s collective bargaining agreement prohibits smokeless tobacco in all 30 ballparks

“I chew sunflower seeds and bubble gum. No tobacco.”

— Rafael Devers, via interpreted interview (Canada Current (secondary sports reporting))

The pattern: Devers’ chewing habit fits a well-established MLB dugout culture where sunflower seeds and gum replace the tobacco that was common in previous generations.

Is Rafael Devers a good player?

The short answer, backed by awards and numbers: yes. Devers is a three-time MLB All-Star (2021, 2022, 2024) and a two-time Silver Slugger Award winner (2020, 2021), per MLB.com (official league stats). He won a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2018 and has consistently ranked among the top offensive third basemen in the American League.

Career performance and accolades

Four career statistics, one pattern: consistent above-average offense from a corner infield position.

The trade-off: Devers’ offensive production has been elite, but his defensive metrics at third base have been below average, which contributed to Boston’s willingness to move him and the Giants’ decision to split his time between first and third.

Who won the Devers trade?

Early analysis points to a win-win. The Giants gained an established, 29-year-old middle-of-order bat with 254 career home runs and a World Series pedigree. The Red Sox acquired four young players — two left-handed pitchers, a right-handed arm, and an outfield prospect — who could form part of their next core, according to ESPN (sports news coverage).

Post-trade analysis

• Giants received: an All-Star slugger with five years of team control remaining
• Red Sox received: four prospects, none ranked in MLB’s top 100 at the time of the deal
• Devers’ 2026 numbers with the Giants: .244 batting average, 18 home runs, 47 RBI (MLB.com (Spanish site stats snapshot))

The pattern: Boston prioritized long-term depth over short-term star power. San Francisco prioritized the present. Both approaches make sense given each team’s competitive window.

The implication: A fair trade verdict takes at least two seasons. If Harrison develops into a mid-rotation starter for Boston, the deal tilts. If Devers produces at his career norms through 2028, the Giants win the near term.

Career timeline

• July 25, 2017: MLB debut with Boston Red Sox (Baseball-Reference (career stats database))
• 2018: Won World Series with Red Sox (Wikipedia (biographical summary))
• 2020: First Silver Slugger Award (MLB.com (official league stats))
• 2021: First All-Star selection; birth of daughter (MLB.com (official league stats))
• 2022: Second All-Star and Silver Slugger (MLB.com (official league stats))
• 2023: Signed 10-year, $313.5 million extension with Red Sox (Spotrac (contract and transaction tracker))
• June 15, 2025: Traded to San Francisco Giants (ESPN (sports news coverage))
• 2026: Current season with Giants (MLB.com (official league stats))

What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear

Quotes and perspectives

“I chew sunflower seeds and bubble gum. No tobacco.”

— Rafael Devers, via interpreted interview (Canada Current (secondary sports reporting))

“He is a cornerstone of our franchise.”

— Red Sox general manager, at the time of Devers’ 2023 extension (MLB.com (official league coverage))

Related reading: **Billy Beane: Moneyball, Career, and Current Role with the Red Sox**

For a deeper look at the circumstances and impact of his move, readers can explore the Giants trade details.

Frequently asked questions