San Francisco Giants star first baseman and designated hitter Rafael Devers drew a lot of criticism from Boston Red Sox fans when was traded from Boston to San Francisco.
Because of well-publicized drama about the organizations’ differing feelings with Devers about which positions he should and should not play, many fans and even insiders felt he might be a clubhouse cancer.
Those talks only intensified when the Giants started losing after trading for Devers, while the Red Sox somehow started playing better baseball.
But as of recently, the Giants have really turned that around. They have won 11 of their last 12 games and sit only 4 games out of a playoff spot.
In addition, the Giants seem to be having a lot of fun playing together. Their stars are all playing well and building team chemistry, and Devers is right in the middle of that.
In an interview with insider Andrew Baggarly of The Athletic, star Giants rookie Drew Gilbert had high praise for Devers, for both his on-field play and his attitude in the clubhouse.
“Absolutely, that’s our guy,” Gilbert said. “We’ve got to get hyped for him. Obviously things didn’t end the way he wanted in Boston and I can’t speak to that. But he’s the best, man.”
“He’s a guy you come to the ballpark wanting to see.”
Many Giants fans took this as indisputable evidence that Devers is fun to have around in the clubhouse.
If Anyone Knows Vibes, It’s Drew Gilbert
There’s a reason Baggarly interviewed Gilbert for this story.
On paper, Gilbert is an interesting person to ask about Devers. He’s been around Devers less than most of the other Giants, given that San Francisco just called him up to the big leagues a month ago on August 8, 2025.
But in such a short period of time, Gilbert has already established himself as a true expert in one thing: vibes.
In just 21 games, Gilbert has won the hearts of the Giants fanbase with his high energy and passion for the game of baseball. His celebrations are just as showstopping, if not more, as his play on the field.
Gilbert took the internet by storm again on Friday September 5, 2025 when he hyped Devers up after Devers’s home run against the St. Louis Cardinals.
His positive energy has been a shot in the arm for the Giants clubhouse. But he’s also been a very good baseball player.
It’s a small sample size, but in 53 at-bats, Gilbert is hitting .264 with 3 home runs, 11 RBI and 1 stolen base. He’s also been a very solid defender and passes the eye test in every way. He looks like a future star.
Devers Has Led The Giants’ Dominant Offense
Giants players may love Devers in the clubhouse all the time, but they are loving him a little extra right now because of the massive offensive surge he has been on.
During the Giants’ 11-1 stretch in his last 12 games, Devers is hitting .391 with 6 home runs, 16 RBI and 15 runs scored.
The Giants offense has taken off right alongside Devers. In their scorching 12 game stretch, they have averaged 7.8 runs per game. If you take out their one loss against the Baltimore Orioles, in which they scored only 1 run, they have averaged about 8.5 runs per game.
Those are absurd numbers, especially for a Giants offense that looked completely dead in June, July, and for half of August.
Giants fans, what do you think of Drew Gilbert’s comments on Rafael Devers?
San Francisco Giants Rookie Turns Heads With Comments on Rafael Devers