San Francisco Giants legend Will Clark said Rafael Devers no-showed three times after the team offered to have the former longtime first baseman mentor the newly acquired All-Star slugger at the position.
"Friday, Saturday, Sunday, he did not come out early, at all. Period, not at all. In fact, he didn't even hit on the field," Clark said on the "Deuces Wild" podcast. "Everybody's like, 'Oh my God, I'm so sorry, Will. I'm so sorry.'"
Clark, a six-time All-Star during a 15-year career that spanned from 1986-2000, believes Devers didn't attend the sessions because the Giants were playing the Boston Red Sox that weekend - six days after Devers arrived from Boston in the mid-June blockbuster trade.
Devers publicly criticized the Red Sox and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow in early May for asking him to play first base after Triston Casas' season-ending knee injury. That outburst followed another spat in spring training after the team signed Gold Glove winner Alex Bregman in the offseason to play third base and asked Devers to transition to full-time DH.
"I know what the f--- happened," Clark said. "I said, he didn't want to go out and be at first base and be 20 feet in front of their fricking dugout with what went on in Boston, and now he's working with me at first base. He didn't want to have to go through all that bullshit through the press and the media. So, I completely understand."
The 61-year-old acknowledged he won't be so forgiving if Devers dodges his help the next time around.
"Rafael Devers, next time I'm in San Francisco, your ass will be on the field at first base. Just letting you know that," Clark said. "Even if I gotta go grab you by the f-----g back of the neck and drag your ass out there, you will be at first base."
