With the San Francisco Giants trailing the Miami Marlins by one run in the ninth inning on Sunday and Rafael Devers standing at first base after drawing a six-pitch walk, it made sense for Giants manager Tony Vitello to call for a pinch runner.
After all, Devers is far from fleet-footed, and his 22nd percentile sprint speed ranks in the bottom half of the league.
Except, the first baseman wanted no part of being substituted for Jonah Cox.
Rafael Devers didn’t want to be removed for a pinch runner after a leadoff walk to start the ninth pic.twitter.com/PR3DCOFd3M
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) June 21, 2026
As Cox, who was already announced by the PA system, made his way to first, a visibly upset Devers tried to wave him back. However, first-base umpire Nate Tomlinson intervened, ultimately placing Cox on first base and sending Devers back to the dugout.
When Devers reached the dugout, he dodged bench coach Jayce Tingler’s attempt to give him a back tap.
It was a logical move for the now 31-46 Giants. Facing the potential of a series sweep, Cox and his 89th percentile sprint speed represented the best chance at avoiding that. In the end, it didn’t matter, as Jung Hoo Lee flied out on the third pitch he saw, and Willy Adames hit into a game-ending double play on the second pitch of the at-bat. The Giants fell 2-1, dropping 17.5 games back of the NL West lead and nine back for a wild-card spot.
Vitello told reporters he did not have a conversation with Devers about the incident and had no plans to do so.
“We talk every day. I’m good,” Vitello said. “I would rather have guys like (Logan Webb), where you have to rip them off the field as opposed to vice versa.”
Instead, Vitello chalked up the incident to Devers’ hunger to win.
Devers declined to address the incident, per the San Francisco Chronicle.