What began as a simple scope for mentorship became the most talked-about team controversy for the Giants. Will Clark, Giants legend and a respected voice in MLB, was set to provide Rafael Devers with guidance during pregame sessions. It was not going to be an intense workout—just positioning tips, footwork chatter, and a little first base wisdom from someone who has done it all. However, instead of taking advantage, the former Red Sox star skipped all three days of early work, just as the Red Sox came to town.
That timing was not lost on anyone. Clark said, “Friday, Saturday, Sunday—he did not come out early. At all. Period.” Sure, feelings were swirling with the Red Sox in the opposite dugout; however, this was not about drama—it was about responsibility. Specifically, since Bob Melvin and coach Matt Williams had already arranged the mentorship.
Things escalated when Clark, understandably frustrated, issued a now-viral warning. “Next time I am in San Francisco, you will be at first base… even if I have to grab you by the back of the neck and drag you out there.” It was not meant to be literal; however, the tone? This was very real. MLB, at its core, is built on legacy, and when an icon gets ghosted, all notice.
George Balekji did not stop either. On NESN, he highlighted how Melvin and Williams had given Clark the green light, even encouraged the veteran to work with Devers. The effort was there—from the manager, the coaching staff, and the legend. However, Devers? Crickets. “You’ve got to go to Bob,” Balekji said. “If you don’t want to do it, just say so. Don’t ghost a guy like Will Clark.”
Travis Thomas doubled down, calling it messy instead of blown out of proportion. “This is how Rafi does business,” Thomsan said bluntly. This pattern was a big part of why the Red Sox were content to wash their hands clean. Devers’ flashy “I’ll play wherever they want me to play” press conference energy also quickly faded. Where was that spark now?
As Travis highlighted, “The Giants are rolling… walk-off inside-the-park homers, NL showdowns—they’re built for October.” However, Devers still has not figured it out. From the Red Sox’s bright future to the Giants’ World Series hopes, Devers somehow remains stuck in the same sub-.500 funk. However, as the story developed, a distinctive side began to surface, one that painted the picture with a bit more nuance and far less drama.
Rafael Devers breaks silence, sets record straight on missed Giants workout
After a week of mounting backlash and headlines framing him as disrespectful, Rafael Devers finally broke his silence, and what he shared put a whole new spin on the situation. As per Giants beat reporter Susan Slusser, Devers did, in fact, work out at first base during his former team’s visit to Oracle Park—just not on the day everyone thought. The confusion stemmed from a reported gap on the second day. However, it turns out Clark was also busy that evening because of Autism Acceptance Night. A miscommunication? Could be. However, certainly not the full-on snub it was made out to be.
Devers, speaking through an interpreter, said he was not dodging the workout—he was dealing with lingering injuries. “I’m going to practice as much as I can, and once I am real healthy, then I’ll be at first,” he said. Devers also acknowledged that he and Clark could “just missed each other” that day. No fiery excuses and no deflection—just a star trying to get his rhythm while nursing a bad back and groin soreness. This context does not erase the awkward optics, however, it definitely softens the blow.
Credit: D. Ross Cameron / Imagn Images
Devers’ situation proves how quickly narratives can spiral when interaction breaks down, on and off the field. While initial reports painted Devers as dismissive of legends, his explanation added much-needed clarity. As this saga unfolds, one thing is clear: in MLB, perception battles reality.
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