Giants' Rafael Devers apologizes to manager Tony Vitello for 'misunderstanding,' blames media for blowing things out of proportion

Justice delos Santos and Cam Inman, The Mercury News on Jun 23, 2026

Published in Baseball

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SAN FRANCISCO — Rafael Devers said on Tuesday afternoon that he apologized to manager Tony Vitello for what he called a “misunderstanding” during the Giants’ game Sunday in Miami, then blamed the media for blowing the episode out of proportion.

“I think what it is, is that the media in general — you guys — just blow everything out of proportion,” Devers said through team interpreter Erwin Higueros several hours before the Giants series opener against the Athletics on Tuesday. “I think it’s a reflection that I really don’t talk to you guys. I don’t talk to the media, so because I don’t talk to the media, things like this happen. So, you guys got to write everything and try to blow everything out of proportion.

“I respect the manager. I didn’t mean to be disrespectful to him. That’s why I apologized,” Devers added. “But it’s things that happen, and I think it’s because I don’t talk to the media. You guys, meaning the media, just want to write something about it and just blow everything out of proportion.”

In Sunday’s 2-1 loss to the Marlins, Devers began the top of the ninth by drawing a leadoff walk. Rookie Jonah Cox hopped out of the first base dugout to pinch run for Devers, but the veteran responded by aggressively wagging his finger, signaling that he wanted to stay in the game.

Giants manager Tony Vitello said before Tuesday’s game that he felt no disrespect from Devers, but that an “obvious” conversation was “needed” on their flight home.

“He came to me, sat next to each other on the plane, had a good conversation,” Vitello said. “It was needed. We were going to have to have a conversation. It was a great talk. It was good of him to come back and we sat there and hung out for a little bit.

Devers said on Tuesday that he told Vitello about “a problem with my hamstring” earlier during the trip and thought that ailment was the reason he was being taken out of the game.

“I just thought that he was taking me out of the game because of what the problem was with my hamstring,” Devers said. “If he felt that I was disrespecting him, that’s why I went into his office and I apologized.”

Vitello, in his first season as a major league manager after a storied career as a college head coach, reiterated his postgame stance that Devers was merely signaling he was OK to run after earlier concerns about a sore hamstring.

I went through all the stuff postgame, based on his hamstring, how well he’s done for us.

“As a player or the type of teammate he is and the type of competitor and how bad he wants to win, I’m good to go to battle with him anytime,” said Vitello, noting that Devers has been especially kind to his family and father.

Vitello then borrowed from the movie, “The Town,” to explain his loyalty to Devers: “If he came over to my condo and said, ‘I need your help, you can’t ask about it, we’re going to do some damage,’ all I’d say is, ‘Who’s car are we going to take?’ ”

Cox, who has seldom played since being called up, was visibly confused when he reached first base and unsure of how to proceed. Following an awkward standoff, Devers eventually relented and walked off the field, hiding his face in his helmet. Once Devers reached the dugout, cameras caught Devers trying to dodge a cordial pat on the backside from bench coach Jayce Tingler.

“It was just the heat of the moment,” Devers said. “There’s nothing to be read on it. Just the heat of the moment. Then after that, everything was normal.”

President of baseball operations Buster Posey said Tuesday that the moment reminded him of when Santiago Casilla had a heated moment with manager Bruce Bochy when Bochy pulled him from a game in 2016. Posey referred to Casilla as “one of my favorite people in the whole world,” noting how “we’re all prone to have missteps at times.”

“You could tell he’s frustrated,” Posey told reporters. “With the way the season’s gone, everybody’s frustrated. I think that’s a byproduct of frustration. I haven’t spoken to Rafi directly, but I know Tony has talked to him and he can share more with you. I know they had a good conversation after the game.”

Posey said he plans to sit down with Devers and discuss the matter.

“Everybody has missteps, like I said,” Posey said. “I think you can point to leaders from everywhere. Everybody has missteps. I don’t think you can have an instance like that and say he’s not a good teammate.”

Devers, who entered Tuesday hitting .238 with 11 home runs and a .735 OPS, did not speak to reporters in Miami following Sunday’s game.

Vitello, on Tuesday, sided with Devers in blaming the media for this dramatic storyline, comparing it to an early-season blowup between Matt Chapman and Casey Schmitt.

“It’s like the Chappy-Schmitty thing. I get it,” Vitello said. “It’s something for you guys to run with and talk about from this point on. It’s a non-issue. It was a good chat we had.”