Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers will sit out the All-Star Game to rest a sore left shoulder.
Devers, 27, has been playing through an injury in the AC joint, Boston manager Alex Cora said Tuesday. The eight-year veteran was set to play in his third Midsummer Classic.
“He’s been grinding through a few things, especially his left shoulder,” Cora said. “As a group, we believe this is a good time for him to get some rest and take care of it.”
Devers was in the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Oakland Athletics.
Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg, 25, will replace Devers on the American League roster for the July 16 game in Arlington, Texas, it was announced Tuesday. Westburg, a first-time All-Star, is batting .281 with 14 homers and 49 RBIs in 83 games in his second major league season.
Devers is coming off of a stellar outing against the host New York Yankees, as he went 3-for-4 with two home runs and two RBIs in a 3-0 victory on Sunday night. He is batting .293 with 21 homers, 55 RBIs, a .378 on-base percentage and .593 slugging percentage. He has played in 77 of Boston’s 89 games entering Tuesday.
“They do an amazing job with him during the week,” Cora said of the team’s medical staff. “I think Raffy has learned to be efficient with his work and staying healthy.
“He’s not going to be able to do certain things, but at the end of the day, he’s Raffy Devers, so he finds a way.”
The Red Sox entered Tuesday nine games over .500 to match a season best. They were 7 1/2 games behind the Orioles in the AL East and owners of the third AL wild-card spot.
“We all believe there’s more here; we’re shooting for something bigger than the All-Star Game,” Cora said. “For him to be healthy, that’s the most important thing.”
–Field Level Media