Red Sox Players Begin To Say Who Will Attend, Skip Trump Visit

BOSTON, MA — Rafeal Devers is the first member of the World Series champion Boston Red Sox to publicly say he will skip the team's visit to the White House. The 22-year-old third baseman from the Dominican was among several who commented Saturday about the Red Sox' trip, and the only to definitively say he will not attend, according to The Boston Globe Pete Abraham.

Abraham did not say if Devers gave a reason for not attending the trip, scheduled for Feb. 15. Dozens of championship players across multiple professional sports have bailed on visiting President Trump since he has been in office.

Pitcher Rick Porcello said he will go to the White House, Abraham reported Saturday. Relievers Heath Hembree, Ryan Brasier and Brian Johnson and infielder Brock Holt have all previously said they will attend.

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts, infielder Eduardo Nunez and pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez said they were undecided, according to Abraham.

Alex Cora, who said in the past he would go, said this week that was still the plan but it "might change tomorrow." The Sox manager has been critical of Trump's response to Cora's native Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

Red Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner also recently they would attend the trip, but Henry noted the government shutdown may impact the Feb. 15 date. Henry also owns The Boston Globe, which has had a tumultuous relationship with Trump.

(Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)