Giants' Rafael Devers Draws Backlash for Pinch Runner Reaction

The San Francisco Giants dropped their third straight game on Sunday, losing to the Miami Marlins, 2-1, and continuing their descent among the worst teams in Major League Baseball.

They appeared on the verge of finally snapping their losing streak, with slugger Rafael Devers drawing a leadoff walk to start the ninth inning. However, manager Tony Vitello, in his first year with the Giants, decided he wanted to substitute in a pinch runner for Devers.

Vitello sent Jonah Cox in, and Devers didn’t seem to like the idea, as he wanted to remain on base, possibly thinking that if his team tied it, he’d have an opportunity to bat again.

He wagged his finger over to Vitello at the dugout and tried to gesture to Cox to go back, and he’d remain on base. However, an umpire checked with the Giants’ manager, and Devers was overruled, then had to head back to the dugout.

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The three-time MLB All-Star and former World Series champion with the Boston Red Sox appeared disgruntled as he walked off first base and into the dugout.

Video footage showed the baffling highlight and his reaction to leaving the game in favor of a pinch runner. Even the commentators expressed their surprise at what Devers tried to do during a major spot in the game.

San Francisco went on to lose 2-1 in the away game, which dropped them to a dismal 31-46 record, just a few games ahead of the Colorado Rockies, currently the worst team in the National League.

“Someone thinks he's bigger than the team. Very disrespectful to the skipper. Not a fan,” an X commenter replied to the highlight clip.

“I didn’t know Devers was named manager of the team. When did that happen?” another commenter said.

One X commenter wrote, “Acting like a prima donna without the stats - especially with RISP - to back it up.”

Others commented, “Lmaoo this the guy you thank'd the Sox for? Thanks for taking him off our hands,” and “Embarrassing. Devers shouldn’t be on the team.”

The Marlins officially swept this series against the Giants, winning their first game, 4-3, followed by a 6-3 win, and then today’s one-run victory.

Apart from his tantrum on first base, Devers is among the Giants’ best batters this season, with a .298 average, 11 home runs, and 71 hits in 77 games. While he delivered a home run in Friday’s loss, he went 0 of 4 in Saturday’s game and was hitless again on Sunday with one walk and one strikeout.

And this may be bigger than a Devers issue, as it could really signal a team in a frustrating downward spiral with a manager struggling to guide them to wins in his first year.

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This story was originally published June 21, 2026 at 10:03 PM.