Red Sox Notes: Devers and Abreu set to return, another starter heads to IL

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Red Sox fans will finally get their first look at All-Star third baseman Rafael Devers on Saturday. The slugger is going to make his Grapefruit League debut against his former teammate Chris Sale and the Atlanta Braves at JetBlue Park.

Boston has been working Devers along slowly since camp opened last month. Even with them taking a cautious approach, it’s certainly disingenuous on Devers’ part to seem puzzled over fans and media questioning his health, especially having not seen game action with two weeks to go before Opening Day.

Devers saw some game action when he played in an intrasquad game on Thursday afternoon. He faced Walker Buehler three times, striking out, lining out to center field, and then crushing a homer to center field. Devers also faced Zack Kelly and worked a walk.

Boston will have Devers be the designated hitter.

WILYER ABREU TO DEBUT

After missing time the entire camp dealing with a gastrointestinal issue, Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu has been cleared for game action.

Abreu played in a minor league game Friday at Fenway South and is expected to be in the starting lineup on Saturday when Chris Sale and the Braves come to Fort Myers.

The Red Sox weren’t sure if Abreu would have enough time to be ready and make the Opening Day roster. Alex Cora sounded optimistic that Abreu could break camp.

“I think I was a little bit worried that the numbers weren’t going to get there sooner rather than later,” said Cora. “But these [numbers] are great news, and now we just go.”

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Abreu has been able to do some baseball activities the last few weeks, allowing him to maintain his strength.

“We’ll see where it takes us,” added Cora. “But I’m confident that physically, he’s in a good spot. Honestly, he didn’t lose too much. I know it looks that way, but he feels stronger. The numbers back that up. So, now it’s just the reps, and at-bats-wise, defensively, he’s been doing that the whole week.”

Abreu heads into the 2025 season coming off a relatively productive rookie campaign. Defensively, he was superb, earning an American League Gold Glove in right field. He became the first Sox’ rookie to win a Gold Glove since Fred Lynn in 1975. Abreu was nine runs better than the average in right field, according to Statcast, helping him win the award.

Offensively, it was a different story; he finished the year slashing .253/.333/.461 with 15 homers, 33 doubles, 58 RBI, 40 walks, eight stolen bases, and a .781 OPS in 132 games. One knock to his rookie season was Abreu’s struggles against southpaws; in 50 games, he slahsed .180/.254/.279 with a .533 OPS.

If Abreu is ready for Opening Day, it will slam the door on the idea of Trayce Thompson or Nate Eaton making the roster. Boston will carry outfielders Jarren Duran, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Rob Refsnyder with Masataka Yoshida beginning the year on the injured list. With Abreu’s inability to hit lefties, Refsnyder should see a platoon in right field.

Giolito to the IL

Lucas Giolito was diagnosed with a low-grade hamstring strain that will result in him landing on the injured list.

“Obviously he’s behind,” Cora said following the Sox' 3-2 win over the Mets. “So, I don’t see him being on the Opening Day roster. So now the other guys come in to play. You saw Cooper Criswell (Wednesday). We got Sean Newcomb pitching (Thursday). We’re getting tested right away. I think the difference is that we truly believe that this year we’re in a better spot than last year, but we’re down three.”

Giolito downplayed his injury, telling reporters he feels fine.

“Obviously it’s frustrating, and it’s not my decision,” Giolito said. “I went out and threw today and felt 100 percent fine, completely asymptomatic. I was actually surprised at how good I felt. If I were in charge, I’d be like, ‘Let’s keep pitching.’”

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With Giolito landing on the shelf, Boston will have three starters on the IL when the regular season begins in Texas. Brayan Bello (right shoulder inflammation) and Kutter Crawford (right knee) won’t be ready and will test Boston’s internal depth early.

Quinn Priester and Richard Fitts are the two leading candidates to pitch toward the backend of the Red Sox bullpen. Newcomb has looked sharp this spring where he’s posted a 0.93 ERA in four games (three starts), with 10 strikeouts to three walks in 9 2/3 innings. I’d expect the southpaw to break camp with the WooSox, and he could remain stretched out, filling a spot in the rotation while Priester and Fitts are with Boston.