From 2003-16, Boston Red Sox designated hitter David Ortiz dominated the MLB, especially against the New York Yankees.
Ortiz played the Yankees 225 times in the regular season, hitting .304 with a .974 OPS, 52 home runs, and 162 RBIs. In the postseason, he played them 14 times, hitting .333 with a 1.065 OPS, five home runs, and 17 RBIs.
After Ortiz’s retirement in 2016, Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers emerged as the new star. In his eight seasons, Devers has already made four All-Star games and become the face of the franchise, mirroring Ortiz’s dominance over the Yankees.
Devers has faced the Yankees 106 times, hitting .269 with an .871 OPS, 28 home runs, and 71 RBIs. At Yankee Stadium, he has hit .268 with an .839 OPS, 16 home runs, and 35 RBIs in 67 games.
But it’s not just the stats that make Devers’ at-bats reminiscent of Ortiz’s against New York. It’s his clutch performances.
As a rookie, Devers famously hit a 103 mph Aroldis Chapman fastball for a home run at Yankee Stadium. Recently, he reached his 1,000th career hit and hit two home runs in a series-clinching victory against the Yankees.
Despite changes in the roster around him, Devers stands out as the franchise player for the Red Sox, delivering one of the best seasons of his career.