Devers Season-Ending Injury
Giants Place Rafael Devers On 60-Day Injured List With Season-Ending Injury
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Key Points
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Manager Tony Vitello said the core-muscle issue had bothered Devers for years and that the Giants had known about it but waited as long as possible before shutting him down.
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Devers was one of baseball’s most productive hitters after the All-Star break, posting a .275/.376/.611 slash line with an MLB-best 46 RBIs from July 14 onward; his 18 home runs in that span ranked second.
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Devers’ 37 home runs fell three short of making him the first San Francisco Giant to reach 40 in a season since Barry Bonds, and he hit 11 homers over his final 18 games.
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Newly promoted outfielder Scott Bandura had a strong minor-league season, batting .320 with a .407 on-base percentage, 13 home runs, 94 RBIs and 34 stolen bases across 604 plate appearances at two levels.
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Devers was acquired from Boston in June 2025 and was in the third season of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract; after batting .207 with two homers through April, he raised his average to .258.
The San Francisco Giants placed Rafael Devers on the 60-day injured list Sunday, ending his first season with a core muscle injury that requires surgery. Yahoo Sports reported the star slugger will meet specialist Dr. William Meyers in Philadelphia, with an operation scheduled for Tuesday and offseason recovery ahead.
Devers finished with a team-leading 37 home runs and 98 RBIs in 148 games despite battling the injury for much of 2026. Manager Tony Vitello said the Giants knew about the core issue for years but waited as long as possible before shutting him down. The Score noted the injury ends what became a historic late-season offensive tear.
A Late-Season Surge Cut Short
After the All-Star break, Devers transformed into one of baseball's most dangerous hitters. From July 14 onward, he posted a .275 batting average with 46 RBIs—an MLB best during that span. He also slugged 18 home runs in that period, the second-most in the league, NBC Sports Bay Area reported.
His 37 home runs fell just three short of 40, which would have made him the first San Francisco Giant to reach that mark since Barry Bonds. Remarkably, Devers hit 11 homers over his final 18 games despite managing pain from the unresolved core issue.
Giants Prioritize Long-Term Investment Over Playoffs
San Francisco chose not to rush Devers into surgery mid-season because the team had already faded from contention. By delaying the operation until the season ended, the Giants preserved his offseason recovery time and reduced injury risk. IJR noted the decision reflected the reality of a noncompetitive 62–87 team.
Devers is in year three of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract signed after his June 2025 trade from Boston. Protecting his long-term health mattered more than squeezing out final at-bats in a lost season. The Giants showed Devers played just one game all season before being shut down.
Scott Bandura Gets His Chance in the Majors
To replace Devers on the roster, San Francisco promoted outfielder Scott Bandura from Triple-A Sacramento. The 25-year-old had an eye-popping minor-league season: a .320 batting average with a .407 on-base percentage, 13 home runs, 94 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases across 604 plate appearances.
Bandura's call-up signals an evaluation period rather than a direct Devers replacement. With the Giants eliminated from playoff contention, the organization can assess inexpensive young talent while finishing a disappointing season and planning next year's roster.
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