MIAMI -- Rafael Devers wasn't ready to come out of Sunday's game at loanDepot park.
After drawing a six-pitch walk to lead off the top of the ninth inning in the Giants' 2-1 loss to the Marlins, Devers was lifted for pinch-runner Jonah Cox.
As Cox jogged toward first base wearing his sliding mitt, he looked back to the dugout as Devers started to shake his finger. Cox then stood near first-base coach Shane Robinson and first-base umpire Nate Tomlinson while Devers appeared to continue to try to wave him off.
The first baseman also looked visibly frustrated as teammates in the dugout attempted to greet him with friendly pats after the move became official.
"He was signaling over to us that he's good to run," manager Tony Vitello said. "We DH them the first game after the day off, just because [of] base running. A little bit of soreness in his leg, but he's good to go. And so part of that, and then part of it too, competitively, is he wants to stay in the game."
The move was made because the Giants believed Cox's speed gave them their best chance to score the tying run. Once the decision was announced, there was no going back.
"Once we announced the move, the move is made," Vitello said. "So, just going with what our best effort is to win the game. Obviously, you'd like to get Jonah to go get it back, you know, he's relatively quick to the plate, but on a double, going with our best chance to be able to score."
Cox has a sprint speed of 28.8 feet/second and 27 steals in 34 attempts at Triple-A this year. Devers has a sprint speed of 26.2 feet/second and has not stolen a base since being acquired by the Giants a year ago.
Vitello said he does not believe the situation warrants a conversation with Devers, citing the daily communication they already have and the competitive nature he wants to see from his players. Pointing to Logan Webb’s intensity as another example of the type of passion he welcomes in the clubhouse.
Vitello did point out that there might have been a downside to removing Devers. Had the Giants tied the game, they would have been without both their first baseman and one of their most dangerous hitters.
"If we tie the game, you'd hate to not have your first baseman out there, you know, and an elite hitter too,” Vitello said.
According to Vitello, Devers has also repeatedly told the club during this road trip that he feels healthy running the bases, and he pointed to his success going first to third this season. But at the same time, Vitello felt Cox's speed provided the Giants with their best opportunity to manufacture a run late in a one-run game.
"I don't have a problem with Rafi," Vitello said. “It’s not like [Devers] can't score on a double, [but] now you're 2-2 [if we were to tie] you'd like to have what you think your best players are out on the field. In a perfect world, like to see Cox go get a bag at second … but at the very least, if you go down, you go down swinging with your fastest guy over there.”