Why Rafael Devers' MLB turnaround is swinging less
Rafael Devers' MLB turnaround is driven by a simpler approach at the plate: he is swinging far less and hunting better pitches. Since May 9, his xwOBA has jumped from .279 to .368, a shift that points to real contact quality gains—not luck—with the San Francisco Giants.
Key Takeaways
- Devers' expected weighted on-base average spiked nearly 100 points after May 9, from .279 to .368.
- Analysts tie the surge to a choosier swing rate rather than pure batting luck.
- His $313.5 million contract still makes an MLB trade deadline move look unlikely.
- Insider Ken Rosenthal does not expect the Giants to deal Devers, Chapman, or Adames soon.
Early in 2026, Devers looked lost after the Boston Red Sox traded him and his mammoth deal to San Francisco. Critics piled on as his bat speed slipped and quality contact vanished. That story has flipped hard.
According to Yahoo Sports, the clearest on-field change is discipline: Devers is swinging way less, waiting for pitches he can drive. Fans tracking baseball markets can also browse related coverage in our Fintech & Crypto Alerts section.
What changed in Rafael Devers' MLB numbers?
xwOBA tracks contact quality independent of results. A .279 mark ranked near the bottom of qualifiers; .368 would sit among the league's best. That kind of jump is hard to wave away as regression alone.
Declining bat speed remains a concern and helped explain Boston's decision to move him. Yet Devers was not merely unlucky on home runs—he was failing to square up pitches. The post–May 9 stretch shows he is creating impact again.
Why is swinging less helping Devers right now?
Lower swing rate is not a universal offensive cheat code. League-wide charts do not prove that swinging less always equals more production. For Devers, though, selectivity appears to match better timing and pitch recognition.
The approach looks mental as much as mechanical. After an ugly start, he seems more comfortable hunting the pitches he wants instead of expanding the zone. Decision-making, not a miracle swing rebuild, is the headline fix.
Will the Giants trade Devers before the MLB deadline?
Trade chatter has linked Devers to contenders, and WFAN's C-Mac has even floated the Yankees as a fit. Reality is colder: Devers still carries a $313.5 million contract originally signed in Boston, and money is the blocker.
The Times of India reported that Ken Rosenthal said he does not see San Francisco moving Devers, Matt Chapman, or Willy Adames before the deadline, though he left room for surprises. More realistic Giants chips include shorter deals such as Luis Arraez and Robbie Ray.
Devers may never again be the peak star the contract prices, but he is clearly better than his early-season form. For now, the Giants keep their expensive slugger—and the simple secret behind his revival is swinging less.