It's been a slow start to the season for Rafael Devers, but the San Francisco Giants slugger insists that he hasn't grown frustrated amid the struggles.
"There's no reason to be frustrated," Devers told reporters Wednesday through an interpreter, including Justice delos Santos of The Mercury News. "It's my job. Every baseball player goes through ups and downs. That's the only thing I know how to do, and I do believe in myself that eventually I'm going to get out of this funk."
Much was expected from Devers in his first full season with the Giants following his stunning arrival last June. Yet he's looked nothing like his Silver Slugger-winning self over the first five weeks of 2026, hitting .211/.250/.298 with two homers and 10 RBIs across 120 plate appearances. His minus-0.7 fWAR is the second worst in the majors among qualified hitters, and he's tied for the 11th-lowest wRC+ (52).
Devers has stopped hitting the ball hard - his average exit velocity sits in the 60th percentile after finishing in the 97th percentile last year - and his barrel percentage has dropped to 7.8%. He's hitting just .143 against breaking pitches and .190 versus off-speed offerings while slugging a meager .369 against fastballs, the pitch that he's feasted on throughout his 10-year career.
The 29-year-old believes there is something going on with his swing and said he's been working to try and fix whatever hitch is affecting him.
"I need to make an adjustment. That's why I've been working in the cage every day, to adjust to how they're pitching to me," Devers said, according to Maria Guardado of MLB.com. "Those are just adjustments that you have to make, and it can come during any at-bat. I'm not that worried about it. I'm only worried when we lose a lot of games in a row. If we're winning, then I think everyone is good."
Manager Tony Vitello and hitting coach Hunter Mense expressed confidence that Devers will find his way out of the rut, while Devers himself assured that he'll soon be anchoring San Francisco's lineup and mashing baseballs into McCovey Cove.
"I know the kind of player I am," Devers said, per delos Santos. "I have said it before: I am going to get out of this, and I know what I can bring to the table."
