- Devers’ Moment Put Sox Interpreter in a Difficult Spot and Highlighted a Difficult Task That Usually Goes Unheralded
By Alberto Vasallo, III
Red Sox Spanish-language interpreter Daveson Pérez was put in a tight spot last Thursday afternoon in the Sox clubhouse after the team had just beaten the Texas Rangers 5-0 before heading out to Kansas City for their next road trip.
After the game, reporters gathered around Devers’ locker for the usual post-game questions. Devers had homered and driven in two runs, going 2-for-3 in the game. The questions, however, focused more on his thoughts on possibly playing first base since Triston Casas was lost to a season-ending knee injury.
As has already been reported, Devers candidly expressed his frustration with the situation and his disagreement with Red Sox GM Craig Breslow—although he didn’t mention him by name. He explained why he was not on board with the idea of playing first.
But Devers did so through interpreter Daveson Pérez, who actually serves as Manager of Baseball Communications & Media Relations. The Sox’s main interpreter, Carlos Villoria-Benítez, also plays multiple roles in the Baseball Communications & Media Relations department.
As someone who is fluent in both English and Spanish, I will go on record by saying that Daveson handled a difficult moment as well as anyone could have. Trust me—what was written and spoken about in the aftermath by the general media was accurate, as Daveson provided an authentic portrayal of Devers’ words and feelings at that moment. There is no “lost in translation” angle or story here.
Daveson got it right. He and Carlos usually do. The Red Sox have a pair of excellent Spanish-language interpreters and, up to now, have been on point.
The job of these team interpreters goes beyond simple translation; they are facilitators of communication. They are asked to bridge the gap between languages and cultures in a way that ensures the message is conveyed effectively and without misinterpretation. And they must do it in real time—with no notes, no recordings, and in front of cameras, reporters, and often on live media.
From someone who has been doing this for over 30 years: this is not easy, nor is it always perfect. To expect an interpreter to listen to an athlete for over 30 seconds and then go verbatim is an unrealistic expectation.
What is expected—and what is more realistic—is that the interpreter conveys the essence and accuracy of the response. Daveson did exactly that, and under the circumstances, he did it very well. He actually deserves credit for doing so, not unfair criticism—especially from those who can’t judge for themselves.
Were there a few exact words that were not recalled by Daveson? Of course. Did it change the spirit, essence, or meaning of Devers’ comments? Not at all.
Diego Ettedgui, who was an interpreter for the Phillies for eight seasons (2016–2023), watched the Devers exchange from his home in Tampa.
“I felt for Daveson because it was an uncomfortable position, but he handled it with professionalism and he really did a great job. He totally captured the essence of what Devers was saying. I have absolutely nothing negative to say about how Daveson translated with Devers,” Ettedgui told me via phone.
“What people don’t understand is that oftentimes we are also trying to convey emotions, and we have to do it under a lot of pressure. We are in front of cameras and mics that record everything, and if you don’t get it exactly right, people will accuse us of either sugar-coating an answer or not getting it 100% word-for-word—and that’s something that is almost impossible to do in real time, especially when a guy goes on for a long time and you really can’t interrupt him,” added Ettedgui.
Rather than focusing on the couple of inconsequential words that were missed, this moment should serve as an example of how difficult a job it is to be an interpreter—and how well our two guys are doing it.
Both Daveson and Carlos are exceptional. They really are. It is not easy, and just because you are bilingual does not make you a good interpreter. It requires a lot more, and I can genuinely tell you that we have two of the best on our club.
It is also worth being transparent here: for a while I had been wanting to do a story and interview with both Daveson and Carlos regarding the challenges and pressure that come along with their interpreting duties.
Sometimes the stories find you. More to come on this.
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Alberto Vasallo has been covering the Red Sox since 1981 and has worked in print, tv and radio for more than 40 years in Boston. He currently also hosts «La Hora del Café», a daily live-streaming morning show for El Mundo Boston.
