SAN FRANCISCO -- Rafael Devers is back at first base for the Giants.
The 29-year-old slugger was cleared to play the field for the first time in Sunday's series finale against the Mets at Oracle Park after recovering from the left hamstring tightness that limited him to designated hitter duties for the Giants’ first nine games of the season.
“Hopefully he feels great,” manager Tony Vitello said. “He has been DHing. I think guys have seen he's been hauling his butt around the bases. You're never going to feel 100% or 1,000%, but I think he feels good. I think he's anxious to get out there.”
The Giants had been treading carefully with Devers’ hamstring, which forced him to miss two weeks during Spring Training, though the three-time All-Star looked comfortable running the bases during the club’s series in San Diego earlier this week.
Vitello had previously said that Devers could be an option to make his 2026 debut at first base during the upcoming road trip to Baltimore, Cincinnati and Washington, but the Giants’ rough defensive showing in their 9-0 blowout loss to the Mets on Saturday night might have compelled them to move up his timetable.
With Casey Schmitt sidelined with lower back tightness, Jerar Encarnacion got the start at first base on Saturday and committed one of three errors for San Francisco. Schmitt also struggled while filling in for Devers at first, missing a pair of throws from third baseman Matt Chapman in Wednesday's loss to the Padres at Petco Park.
Devers’ ability to play first base should give the Giants a lot more lineup flexibility moving forward. Encarnacion served as the DH against the Mets on Sunday, but the Giants could give regulars such as Heliot Ramos or Luis Arraez occasional looks there, which would create more starting opportunities for bench pieces like Jared Oliva and Christian Koss.
A natural third baseman, Devers started learning first base after coming over from the Red Sox last June. He appeared in 28 games at first for the Giants in 2025 and looked pretty comfortable there by the end of the season.
“During Spring Training, I was surprised at how good his arm is,” Vitello said. “Obviously he has the capability of playing third base. His feet are really good. I joked with him one day about playing shortstop. But he has a background that started at shortstop. I don't think we want to put him there anytime soon, but I think it speaks to the fact that, at some point, at a competitive level, he can play that position.
“He's got good feet and a good arm, so that's a start. That first base position comes with a lot of ins and outs or specific plays where you’ve got to make good decisions. You’ve got to put yourself in a good position. I know he feels more comfortable than he did probably this time last year, just familiarizing himself over there.”