Rafael Devers is getting his first taste of playing in the National League. The problem is, his arrival and his new role as a designated hitter this season has potentially blocked Philadelphia Phillies' designated hitter Kyle Schwarber now of a chance at the Midsummer Classic.
The baseball world was in shambles on Sunday after a shocking development that saw long-time Boston Red Sox Rafael Devers get traded to the San Francisco Giants to become their designated hitter, per Jeff Passan of ESPN. Unfortunately for the Schwarber, Devers' All-Star vote count carries over from the AL and puts another road block directly in the way of Schwarber's All-Star candidacy.
Devers has the edge so far when it comes to All-Star voting, along with Shohei Ohtani. In the first ballot update, Ohtani was the lead vote-getter for NL DH's at 1,398,771 votes and Devers currently holds the second and final potential roster spot at 796,382 votes.
Rafael Devers trade might have just screwed Kyle Schwarber out of the All-Star Game
Devers is new to the position this year after the Red Sox signed Alex Bregman in free agency, an already well-established third baseman. Devers struggled with the hitting aspect at first, but after an 0-for-19 with 15 strikeouts through April 1, Devers has been on a tear, posting a .960 OPS, fifth-best in MLB during that span.
He has bounced back into All-Star form, but for Schwarber, Devers' performance now directly impacts him and his All-Star chances. Here's a glimpse at the first ballot update, per Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area.
The Giant who has the most All-Star votes after the first round: pic.twitter.com/m5Nub0ekBa
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) June 16, 2025
Schwarber has remained a consistent power threat long before June arrived, when Schwarber is usually at the peak of his powers. Through 75 games before Friday's series opener against the New York Mets, he's batting .241/.373/.533, with 23 home runs and 54 RBIs. His .906 OPS is his highest mark since 2021. He's been slipping as of recently, with only a .156 batting average and .624 OPS since the start of June. Schwarber will turn it around, and if there's ever a time when he could, it's June.
Schwarber is a two-time All Star in his career, the last coming in 2022 in his first season in Philadelphia. He may not be the most versatile hitter in the league, but he's carved out a nice place for himself as an everyday designated hitter. Since 2022, he's third in the league in home runs with 154. He's also held the Phillies' home run crown each year during that span.
Devers currently holds nearly a half-a-million vote lead over Schwarber which can be a lot to overcome. Seiya Suzuki also holds a slight lead over Schwarber by less than 30,000 votes, which is doable as well.
Schwarber wasn't any kind of shoo-in for the All-Star Game in Atlanta, but this unexpected arrival of Devers makes his chances that much lower. According to Matt Gelb of The Athletic, this could be the last chance for Schwarber to make it as a member of the Phillies (subscription required).