Rafael Devers Clarifies What He Was Thinking During His Bad-Look Wave-Off Moment in Giants-Marlins
Rafael Devers Clarifies What He Was Thinking During His Bad-Look Wave-Off Moment in Giants-Marlins
Devers also issued an apology to Tony Vitello.Kristen Wong|Rafael Devers explained why he waved off his pinch-runner during the Giants’ loss to the Marlins. | Screengrab on Twitter/@KNBR
Rafael Devers candidly explained why he reacted the way he did after being substituted in the ninth inning of the Giants’ loss to the Marlins on Sunday.
In the ninth inning of San Francisco’s 2-1 defeat, Devers was seen waving off pinch-runner Jonah Cox and looked visibly upset when the rookie came out to replace him at first base. The incident came after a leadoff walk when the Giants were trailing by a run, as manager Tony Vitello made the decision to swap out Devers with a speedier runner in hopes of stealing a late win in Miami.
Devers sulked as he walked to the dugout and avoided a bench coach who tried to give him a pat on the back. On Tuesday, Devers clarified exactly what he was thinking during the tense moment and noted that he apologized to Vitello shortly after the game:
"It was a misunderstanding. 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 he was taking me out of the game. ... It just got a little bit blown out of proportion,” Devers said, via Spanish interpreter Erwin Higueros.
“I just thought [Vitello] was taking me out of my game because of my hamstring,” Devers continued. “And if he felt I was disrespecting him, that’s why I went into his office and I apologized to him.”
Rafael Devers on waving off his pinch runner in Miami:
"It was a misunderstanding. 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 he was taking me out of the game ... it just got a little bit blown out of… pic.twitter.com/9ht03WUznl
Rafael Devers takes shot at Giants media for blowing wave-off incident “out of proportion”
Devers went on to take a stab at the media, who he claimed made Sunday’s wave-off incident much bigger than it actually was.
“The media in general, you guys, just blow everything out of proportion,” Devers said. “And I think it’s a reflection that I really don’t talk to you guys. So because I don’t talk to the media, things like this happen. So you guys gotta write everything and try to blow everything out of proportion. I respect the manager, I didn’t mean to be disrespectful to him. ... I think it’s because I don’t talk to the media that you guys in the media just want to write something about it and blow everything up.”
"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."
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
Vitello, for his part, didn’t take any offense to Devers’s reaction and called it a “non-issue.”
Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey dismissed Devers’s wave-off moment as a “misstep” but did note that everybody could tell the first baseman was “frustrated” in the moment. Posey added that he didn’t see the need to discipline Devers in the wake of the incident.
“I’ll probably sit down with him, and from talking from Tony, I think he understands … setting the right example as a leader in that clubhouse,” Posey said. “Everybody has missteps. You can even point to leaders from everywhere. Everybody has missteps. So, I don’t think you can have an instant like that and say that he’s not a good teammate.”
Devers is currently in his first full season with the Giants after being traded by the Red Sox last year. The 29-year-old’s Boston tenure ended on less-than-amicable terms partly due to Devers’s attitude toward various roster changes—most notably, Devers was miffed when asked to play first base after Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury.
In any case, it looks like the Devers’s wave-off drama was, indeed, overblown. The Giants star will look to improve his play ahead of the August 3 trade deadline or risk being dealt amid what’s shaking out to be a career-worst campaign for the three-time All-Star in 2026.
More MLB from Sports Illustrated
Published 3 hours ago | Modified 3 hours agoKRISTEN WONG
Kristen Wong is a staff writer on the Breaking and Trending News team at Sports Illustrated. She has been a sports journalist since 2020 and has a bachelor’s in English and linguistics from Columbia University. Before joining SI in November 2023, Wong covered four NFL teams as an associate editor with the FanSided NFL network and worked as a staff writer for the brand’s flagship site. She is a lifelong Liverpool fan who enjoys solving crossword puzzles and hanging out at her neighborhood dive bar in NYC.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
KRISTEN WONG
