BOSTON — A sore left shoulder will keep Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers from participating in his third All-Star Game next week in Texas. In his place, Baltimore Orioles infielder Jordan Westburg has been added to the American League All-Star roster, MLB announced Tuesday. He joins Baltimore teammates Adley Rutschman, Gunnar Henderson and Corbin Burnes on the AL team.
This is Westburg’s first All-Star selection. The 25-year-old is hitting .281 with a .835 OPS and 14 homers in 83 games.
Jordan Westburg is headed to Arlington! #AllStarGame
He has been named a replacement on the American League team for Rafael Devers. pic.twitter.com/eD6FhP8uhC
— MLB (@MLB) July 9, 2024
Devers has been dealing with a sore left shoulder for much of the season, an ailment he first felt on a swing at the end of spring training. Devers never went on the injured list but missed 11 games in April dealing with the shoulder issue while also coping with knee soreness. Since April 24, however, he’s missed just one game.
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Despite the sore shoulder, Devers is having one of his best seasons at the plate. He’s batting .293 with a .971 OPS and 21 homers in 77 games.
“He’s been grinding through a few things, especially his left shoulder,” manager Alex Cora said Tuesday. “As a group, we believe that this is a good time for him to get some rest and then take care of it, so he’s not going to participate (in the All-Star Game).”
At the start of Tuesday, Devers’ 21 homers ranked fifth in the AL, while he was third in slugging percentage (.593). He’s homered in seven of his last 11 games since June 24 hitting .405 with a 1.455 OPS in that span.
“It’s a testament to our medical staff, they do an amazing job with him during the week,” Cora said. “I think Raffy has learned how to be efficient with his work and staying healthy. And obviously talking to him, we all believe there’s more here. We’re shooting for something bigger than the All-Star Game and for him to be healthy is the most important thing.
“But as far as the performance, he does an outstanding job in the weight room, in the training room, not hitting outside. Not taking grounders when he doesn’t need them. So he’s a very mature player that understands his craft. And that’s the reason he’s been able to post.”
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(Photo of Rafael Devers: Adam Hunger / Getty Images)
