Giants' Rafael Devers Explains Waving Off Pinch Runner, Says He Apologized to Manager Tony Vitello

Rafael Devers explained why he waved off a pinch runner during the San Francisco Giants' 2-1 loss to the Miami Marlins on Sunday.

"It was a misunderstanding," Devers told reporters Tuesday. "Two days prior to that I had told the manager that I had a problem with my hamstring and I thought that was the reason he was taking me out of the game ... it just got a little bit blown out of proportion."

He revealed that he apologized to Giants manager Tony Vitello regarding the incident after the game as well.

Buster Posey, San Francisco's president of baseball operations, also told reporters that Devers and Vitello had a "good conversation" regarding the interaction following the defeat.

As the Giants trailed the Marlins by one run in the top of the ninth inning on Sunday, Devers drew a leadoff walk.

Jonah Cox then attempted to enter the game as a pinch runner before he was waved off by his teammate on first base. Cox still replaced Devers at first, though.

San Francisco's fate was eventually sealed due to a flyout from Jung Hoo Lee before Willy Adames hit into a game-ending double play.

Vitello alluded to Devers' hamstring soreness when discussing the mixed signals.

"He was signaling over to us that he's good to run," Vitello said, per Perla Paredes of MLB.com. "We DH them the first game after the day off, just because [of] base running. A little bit of soreness in his leg, but he's good to go. And so part of that, and then part of it too, competitively, is he wants to stay in the game."

Devers is in the midst of his first full season in San Francisco after he was acquired by the team in a blockbuster trade with the Boston Red Sox in the middle of his 2025 campaign.

He's hitting .238 with 11 home runs, 23 doubles and 36 RBI in 77 appearances this year.

The Giants sit at No. 4 in the National League West standings with a 31-46 record.