Giants notes: What burst of speed means for Rafael Devers’ return to first base

SAN DIEGO — Willy Adames smiled when the play came up. He looked over at Rafael Devers.“Hey,” Adames said. “He might be faster than [Heliot] Ramos.”The play that was discussed often after Tuesday night’s game was just an infield single, but it was a surprising one. Devers hit a slow roller to the right side and got down the line at 27.8 feet per second, which is his fastest sprint speed as a Giant and rates as above-average. It was a somewhat shocking display from a player who is limited to designated hitter duty right now because of lingering hamstring tightness. They're calling Rafael Devers the fastest man to ever live pic.twitter.com/c4rtBV65RJ — SF Giants on NBCS (&commat;NBCSGiants) April 1, 2026 It also leads to an obvious question: Did that show Devers is ready for first base? “I think he feels good enough to do it,” manager Tony Vitello said. “But it’s a different type of action on the ground ball stance, on the stretch stance, than it is running in a straight line. It’s just a different action. Again, I think it’s a little more precaution than anything from our end, but you guys see how well he’s moving.“I just like the fact that he prepared himself going into spring training and during spring training and is moving the way he’s moving. I think he looks good at the plate. We’ll get to that point where he’s playing first base for us.”Devers has been the DH in all six games thus far, with Casey Schmitt getting all of the action at first base. Schmitt had a rough defensive game on Wednesday at Petco Park and Vitello said Jerar Encarnacion might get a look on Thursday, but that might have been the case anyway. He wants to get the veteran some at-bats and a lefty will start for the New York Mets. All of this is happening while Bryce Eldridge is at Triple-A, but the Giants want to prioritize his development. They also have shown no inclination to swap Schmitt with Luis Arraez, who has played first base in the past but came to San Francisco to return to second and has generally looked good through six games. Vitello has been coy about Devers’ timeline, saying recently that the DH duty likely wouldn’t be measured in weeks, but also that first base starts weren’t imminent. Hamstrings are tricky and often get re-injured, so the Giants will continue to be cautious. Vitello hopes the long-term approach pays off. “Maybe you’ve got a fresher Rafi towards the end of September, which to me, pushing towards the end of the summer playing your best ball is our theme,” he said. Heliot caught a stray from Willy when he was asked about Rafi's run to first pic.twitter.com/Nuf6xyGapM — SF Giants on NBCS (&commat;NBCSGiants) April 1, 2026 Hoping For Good NewsJose Butto walked four in the ninth inning Wednesday before Vitello and trainer Anthony Reyes came out to check on him. His fastball was down in the 90 mph range, and Vitello said after the game that Butto was feeling tightness in his pitching arm. The Giants will get more information on Thursday when they return to Oracle Park.“You always fear for the worst, but you always hope for the best, too,” Vitello said. “Obviously, we’ve got as good (a group) of people as there are to work with him. Hopefully, everything is going to go down the way that it should for him.”Ready For The ShowIt has been limited, but Vitello has officially used his entire roster. Encarnacion pinch-hit for Patrick Bailey late in Wednesday’s game and Daniel Susac then entered to catch. Susac made his MLB debut, and he’s likely to get his first start on Thursday or Friday. Vitello said there’s a “good possibility” that Susac will face lefty David Peterson in the series opener. The delay might end up being a positive for Susac, a Roseville native who now will get to make his first big league start at home. “I feel like Susac can be a weapon for us,” Vitello said. “I really do. Whether it’s the arm strength, the ability to drive the ball and put together good at-bats, and then obviously he has improved behind the plate. The pitchers are all comfortable with him.”Susac wasn’t even alive the last time the Giants used the same eight fielders in six consecutive games. It last happened in 1995, and that consistent lineup is a fun one, starting with leadoff hitter and center fielder Deion Sanders. After Sanders, it was Robby Thompson (second base), Barry Bonds (left field), Matt Williams (third base), Glenallen Hill (right field), Mark Carreon (first base), Royce Clayton (shortstop) and Kirt Manwaring (catcher).Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

Giants notes: What burst of speed means for Rafael Devers’ return to first base

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