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Rafael Devers’ Slump Deepens as Giants Back His Patience

His early 2026 line with bottom-tier WAR raises questions about the blockbuster trade’s payoff.

Overview

  • Devers, who spoke Wednesday in Philadelphia after a three-week quiet spell, said he is not frustrated and will stay with his swing.
  • Through 29 games, he is batting .211/.250/.298 with two home runs, a strikeout rate near 31% and a 5% walk rate, and coaches say he is missing fastballs he used to drive.
  • FanGraphs lists him at -0.7 WAR, placing him near the bottom of all qualified players to start 2026.
  • San Francisco is 13-15 with a league-low 3.34 runs per game and an MLB-worst 5.6% team walk rate, underscoring a broader lineup problem.
  • Buster Posey and manager Tony Vitello urged patience and pointed to his long track record as a middle-of-the-order hitter.