Rafael Devers marked his return to Fenway Park as an opposing player by hitting his 26th home run of the season for the San Francisco Giants on Friday night. The Giants ultimately lost the game 6-4 to Devers' former team, the Boston Red Sox.
Devers, who spent his first nine major league seasons with the Red Sox before being traded to the Giants in June 2025, received a divided reception from the home crowd. As he stepped up to the plate for the first time in the top of the first inning, boos appeared to be more prominent than applause.
The veteran infielder's most significant moment came in the fourth inning. With the Giants trailing 5-1 after the Red Sox scored five runs in the bottom of the third, Drew Gilbert hit a two-run home run. Devers followed by hitting a solo shot off Red Sox starter Sonny Gray, cutting the deficit to 5-4. This marked his first home run at Fenway Park since his departure from Boston.
Devers has been a primary power source for the Giants this season, despite the team's overall struggles. Heading into the game in Boston, San Francisco had a record of 52-75 and was out of playoff contention. Devers, 29, had played in all 127 of the Giants' games, batting .244 with a .320 on-base percentage and a .470 slugging percentage. He had accumulated 117 hits, including 31 doubles and 25 home runs, with 69 RBIs and 67 runs scored.
Although his .789 OPS is his lowest since his first full MLB season in 2018, Devers remains a key contributor for the Giants, ranking among the top three hitters in WAR for the National League West club. The Red Sox originally signed Devers as an international free agent in 2013, and he debuted in 2017. He was a significant player in the team's 2018 World Series victory, hitting .294 in the postseason.
Disagreements regarding his defensive role during the 2025 season reportedly led to a deterioration of his relationship with the Red Sox organization, ultimately resulting in his trade to the Giants.