FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Of the first four pitches Rafael Devers saw on Saturday afternoon, two left the park.

Devers, who on Tuesday agreed to a one-year contract worth a reported $11.2 million, has raked so far in a small spring sample, with three homers, four RBIs and a .417/.462/1.167 slash line across five games (12 at-bats). While it certainly excited the fans during Boston’s 5-3 win against the Rays at JetBlue Park, it was really just business as usual for Devers, who has been on the rise since his 2017 debut.

This year already, Alex Cora said, Devers is even bringing a little extra to the table.

“The way he's going about his business is different; you can tell,” the Red Sox manager added. “He was good before, but now, the way he acts, he's the first one here in the weight room. Everything he's doing, from bunting against the machine just in case they shift, and telling guys to go with him.

“He's become a man, and it's fun to watch. He's only 25. That's a cool thing.”

Devers took the first pitch he saw from Rays starter Corey Kluber and parked it over the wall in right-center field in the first inning to put Boston on the board. Two innings later, he needed to see just two pitches from Kluber before sending the third offering out of the park as well.

“That was a lot of fun to watch right there,” Boston starter Michael Wacha said. “Just a little preview of what’s to come. I love seeing him playing a little third base and hitting dingers in the lineup.”

Devers has already proved as powerful as he is consistent, with a .291 batting average, 81 home runs, 107 doubles and 271 RBIs from 2019-21. The Red Sox starting third baseman played in 156 games in ’19 and ’21, and 57 of 60 contests in the pandemic-shortened '20 campaign.

For his efforts last season, Devers earned his first career All-Star nod as well as an American League Silver Slugger Award. Now, it seems the left-handed hitter is right on track to pick up where he left off.

And maybe even help push Boston to the next level.

“This group has that kind of attitude like they have unfinished business,” Cora said. “You know, we have to be better to get to where we want to. I know everybody feels like [2021] was a great season, but for us, we fell short.”

Hurricanes and Peacocks and Jayhawks, oh my …
Catcher Kevin Plawecki endured a bit of good-natured ribbing in the clubhouse on Saturday morning after his alma mater, Purdue -- a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament -- was upset by No. 15-seeded Cinderella squad St. Peter’s, 67-64, on Friday night in the Sweet 16.

Cora, on the other hand, proudly sported a pair of green-and-orange shorts for morning workouts after his alma mater, No. 10 seed Miami, handled business against No. 11 Iowa State, 70-56, to advance to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.

“That's March Madness, and everybody is paying attention and having fun with it,” Cora said. “From my end, I love UM. They gave me a chance to go there and become a man. I was just a kid when I got there, and to be able to live that experience ...”

Cora also was more than happy to make room for his catcher on the “U” bandwagon.

“I watched [the St. Peter’s] game, and I feel bad for Plaw; he went to Purdue,” Cora said. “Rough night for him, but he has Miami in one of the [brackets], so he's now a 'Cane.”

Miami faces top-seeded Kansas on Sunday. An upset would send the Hurricanes to the Final Four and Cora to the phone to call in a favor, he joked.

“Hopefully we can win two more, and then I can ask permission to fly [to New Orleans for the national championship game] on Monday,” he said with a laugh. “That's gonna be a 'no,' I know. A hard no, I know that, but I can try.”