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MLB Makes Rafael Devers Announcement Amid Red Sox Drama
David Butler II-Imagn Images

With all the drama surrounding Rafael Devers and the Boston Red Sox, what the left-handed slugger does on the field is often forgotten. 

Devers, one of the top hitters in baseball, has started to really figure it out the past few weeks, putting together some impressive at-bats last week. 

Major League Baseball has recognized him, too, announcing that he's won the American League Player of the Week Award after raising his batting average from around .240 to .280. Devers went 10 for 21 with two home runs, eight RBI, and a 1.386 OPS.

Devers, who had his best week of the season, is needed if the Red Sox want to be the team they're looking to be.

Perhaps this could be a step in the right direction for both sides. Boston clearly understands that if it wants to win a World Series, it needs Devers to perform at the highest level. 

Despite much of the drama surrounding the two sides, mainly with him not wanting to play first base earlier in the week, there's reason to believe that both sides have to understand what's at stake here.

Whether that eventually means that they look to move on from Devers remains to be seen, but for now, he's in a Red Sox jersey, and will continue to produce at the highest level. He's proven time and time again why the Red Sox gave him the contract he earned.

The Red Sox will take on a tough Detroit Tigers team on Monday night, starting a three-game set in Detroit. The Tigers, 26 - 15, won't be an easy opponent for Boston, 22-20.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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