The San Francisco slugger tagged his 31st long ball of the year, a number that hasn’t been achieved by a Giants player since Barry Bonds in 2006
By Ryan K Boman | SPORTS ILLUSTRATED | Sept 2, 2026
It seems like nostalgia has been running rampant around Oracle Park in recent weeks. After the team added second-generation Giants like Peyton Bonds, Kaeden Kent and (soon) Darren Baker, the icing on the cake has been the return of team legends to celebrate star second baseman Jeff Kent’s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame and subsequent jersey retirement. The team hung up his number #21 for good on Saturday, as several former teammates and members of the organization over the years were on hand to celebrate.
So while the modern-day Giants (57-82) have gone through hell, there were plenty of handshakes and hugs at Willie Mays Place this week. At the same time, Bonds was there to congratulate his former comrade; a modern-day Giants player just hit a number that no player wearing the Orange & Black has done since the seven-time MVP did it 21 years ago.
First baseman Rafael Devers slugged his 31st home run, a three-run shot, in the Giants’ crazy and calamitous 13-12 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night. The blast equaled the first time a San Fran slugger had hit that number since Bonds in 2004. The next year, the megastar would surpass…READ MORE HERE
