SEATTLE — Rafael Devers is the Next Big Thing in Red Sox Nation.
Devers is only 20. He played only 86 games above the A-ball level and now he’s in the majors. Devers did not play in the Red Sox’ 4-0 loss to the Mariners on Monday night, although he was available for pinch-hitting duties. He is expected to make his first big league appearance Tuesday against Seattle’s Felix Hernandez.
Welcome to the big leagues, kid.
There’s a guy in the Sox clubhouse who knows exactly what this is like. Less than a year ago Andrew Benintendi was called to the majors from Double A and made his Red Sox debut in Seattle against the Mariners.
What would Benintendi tell Devers about the adjustment?
“It’s the same game, it’s baseball,’’ said the Sox left fielder. “Still got to get three outs and everything. He’ll probably be all jacked up and excited. Have to slow it down.
Benintendi was only 22 when he got the call. He can relate to what Devers is going through.
“I remember making a very long flight from Portland [Maine] and getting there and introducing myself to everybody,’’ said the Sox outfielder. “I was just trying to take it all in. I didn’t start the first game, but I got to hit twice late in the game. I grounded out to second my first time up. I don’t remember who it was off. Then I struck out against [Edwin Diaz], the closer. The next day was pretty good. I had a couple of hits, so it was good to get the first one out of the way.’’
Benintendi’s memory of those days is a nice demonstration of why he is a major league talent and the rest of us are not. The rest of us would dwell on our first big league at-bat for years. We would think about it while growing up playing ball, and we would never forget anything about that moment after it happened. When you have the talent of an Andrew Benintendi, you can be a little more casual about these things . . . like the name of the first pitcher you faced.
For the record, Benintendi’s first big league at bat was against Seattle’s Donn Roach. Boston’s phenom grounded to second. In the ninth, Benintendi took a called third strike from Diaz to end the game. The next night, he cracked two singles against Hisashi Iwakuma.
Devers is the latest — and as far as we can tell — the last of the Sox “can’t-miss” kids. He follows a conga line of blue-chip prospects, including Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Mookie Betts, Benintendi, and Yoan Moncada.
Some of wunderkinds struggled out of the gate, particularly Bradley. Moncada completely failed during his short big-league tryout, striking out 12 times in 20 plate appearances, including eight in a row. He could not run the bases. He was an obvious case of a guy who was rushed to the big leagues. He was dealt to the White Sox for Chris Sale and no doubt will be a star one day. But he was not ready last year. Just like we don’t know if Devers is ready.
Benintendi was ready. He hit .295 in 34 Sox games and made the catch of the year, stealing a home run in Tampa. He sprained his left knee in late August, but was back for the playoffs and became the youngest Red Sox player to hit a postseason homer.
Benintendi was on the cover of Baseball America during this spring, touted as the best prospect in the game. He was consensus preseason pick for 2017 American League Rookie of the Year.
Then along came Bunyunesque Yankee Aaron Judge, who is a lock for not only Rookie of he Year, but probably American League MVP.
Benintendi, who went 0 for 4 Monday, is batting .264 with 12 homers and 54 RBIs. He is the first Sox rookie to drive home more than 50 runs before the All Star Game since Gold Dust Twins Jim Rice (61) and Fred Lynn (71) turned the trick in the magical summer of 1975.
How does he assess his rookie season thus far?
“Not bad, but not good,’’ said the Marty McFly lookalike. “I feel like since April I’ve been kind of struggling to hit a streak where I go up there and feel I’m in the zone and driving the ball. I’m still trying to find that. Hopeful it will come soon. I’m still trying to learn how I’m getting pitched. It’s been OK.’’
Was it hard living up to expectations as baseball’s best prospect?
“No, not at all. I didn’t even know that [Baseball America cover] until someone said something. I didn’t look at it or listen to it because you can be the No. 1 prospect and then crap the bed. You’ve just got to not think about it and keep playing.’’
He knows he’s not going to be AL Rookie of the Year.
“Yeah,’’ Benintendi said with a chuckle. “He [Judge] deserves it. He’s killing it. He’s a big dude.’’
Baseball has never been hard for Benintendi. He not a giant like Judge, but he does everything well. It was somewhat stunning when he struggled to hit big league pitching this season. He’s not accustomed to hitting in the .260s at any level.
“It’s tough when I’m getting myself out and swinging at bad pitches,’’ he said. “Obviously guys’ stuff is better here than anywhere else. You take that into consideration. You can’t lose your focus at the plate. You have to swing at strikes. When I’m struggling I’ll start swinging at balls, trying to force things.’’
This is what awaits young Mr. Devers.
“I remember everyone telling me, ‘Do what you did to get here. Don’t change anything. You got here for a reason. Just keep doing that,’ ’’ said Benintendi. “. . . Now it just feels like a normal baseball game. I don’t think it really matters who’s on the mound. I just kind of stay here, don’t get too high, don’t get too low. Just take what they give me.’’
I reminded Benintendi that Carl Yastrzemski hit only .266 in his rookie season.
“So there’s still hope?,’’ he asked with a smile.
There’s always hope when you have great skills and are only 23 years old.
Or 20. Like Rafael Devers.
Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at dshaughnessy@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @dan_shaughnessy.