San Francisco Giants first baseman Rafael Devers tried to clarify Sunday's bizarre incident in which he attempted to dismiss a pinch-runner from replacing him.
Speaking before Tuesday's game, Devers told reporters he apologized to manager Tony Vitello for the incident and didn't intend to disrespect his skipper. He added that he was signaling to the dugout that his hamstring, which had been bothering him a few days earlier, was feeling better.
"It was a misunderstanding," Devers said through a translator, per KNBR. "Two days prior to that, I had told the manager that I had a problem with my hamstring, and I thought that was the reason that he was taking me out of the game. ... It just got a little bit blown out of proportion."
He added that apologizing to Vitello "was the right thing to do."
After reaching base in the ninth inning Sunday, Devers tried to wave pinch-runner Jonah Cox back to the dugout. However, Cox had already been officially announced, ultimately giving Devers no choice but to leave the game.
Rafael Devers didn't want to be removed for a pinch runner after a leadoff walk to start the ninth pic.twitter.com/PR3DCOFd3M
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 21, 2026
Though Devers apologized for the incident, the 29-year-old blamed the media for sensationalizing what he felt was a non-story.
"You guys just blow everything out of proportion, and I think that's a reflection of why I really don't talk to you guys."
— KNBR (@KNBR) June 23, 2026
After explaining his side of Sunday's saga, Rafael Devers expanded on why he isn't a big fan of media. pic.twitter.com/QefO1VXsfR
The Devers incident is the latest bump in what's been a turbulent and disappointing season for the Giants. San Francisco entered play Tuesday with a 31-46 record - ahead of only the Colorado Rockies in the National League - and has one of baseball's worst offenses. Devers' 23 doubles lead the majors, but his .735 OPS stands as his lowest since the shortened 2020 season.
President of baseball operations Buster Posey admitted Tuesday that he'd yet to discuss Sunday's incident with Devers but noted he'll "probably sit down with" the slugger in the near future. He also stood by Vitello, a successful college coach in his first pro season, and insisted that what happened Sunday doesn't reflect a lack of leadership or respect for the skipper.
"I feel like Tony has the clubhouse," Posey said. "I think he has the respect of the players in the clubhouse. Everything's gonna be heightened when our record is what it is, but there's no concern on my part that he doesn't have the respect of the clubhouse."
Vitello also brushed the incident aside, both in his words and on Tuesday's lineup card. Devers is slated to play first base and hit cleanup against the Athletics at Oracle Park.
"It was needed," Vitello said, according to Steve Kroner of The Associated Press. "We were going to have to have a conversation, but it was a great talk. ... From this point on, it's a non-issue."
