If Your Birthday is October 24th...
...you share it with Rafael Devers. The Dominican native joined the Red Sox midway through the 2017 season and was a star on Boston's most recent World Series champs. With well over 200 homers and a signed to a long term extension, he looked like he was on his way to being a Fenway fixture, until the Sox signed free agent Alex Bregman and handed him Devers' 3rd base position. Rafi's unhappiness led to an ice cold start to the season -- 0 for 21 with 15 strikeouts -- and hard feelings that led to his mid-June trade to the Giants. Oddly, Boston played better once he was moved and claimed an American League Wild Card, while the Giants slumped and missed the playoffs.
These photos were taken during a Red Sox-Mets game in New York in April 2021.
Tanner Banks has been a dependable lefty reliever for the White Sox and, the past year and a half, the Phillies. While it's doubtful that he'll need to grab a bat with the universal DH rule, he is one of those rare ballplayers who hits right handed, but throws left.
Eric Hosmer enjoyed a productive 13 year big league career. Taken 3rd overall in the 2008 draft by the Royals, he helped lead KC to a pair of American League pennants, including the 2015 World Series championship. I caught the South Florida native in a recent MLB Network appearance and was impressed. Hosmer could be the next ex-big league star to succeed in broadcasting.
Among the 70 MLB players born on October 23rd, Rafael Furcal has the highest career WAR. No one with this birthday has been elected to the Hall of Fame, and only Rafael Devers matches this longtime infielder's three All Star game appearances.




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