MANCHESTER, N.H. — Rafael Devers understands a little English, and laughed when he heard the question: “Where will you be on Thursday?”

“No se,” Devers said.

The “I don’t know” has been a constant as Red Sox Nation awaits the time when Devers, 20, moves on from the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs to Triple-A Pawtucket.

This is no mere promotion. It’s a step required for the Red Sox to see how Devers handles himself at the next level – with thoughts of bringing him to Boston before the end of the year. The Red Sox are desperate to improve a position that has the second-worst production in the majors (.625 OPS).

Devers was in Manchester on Wednesday for the Eastern League All-Star Game, where he played third base and batted cleanup. The Sea Dogs begin a four-day series here Thursday and Devers said he plans on being with the team.

While the Red Sox traditionally make promotions during the All-Star break, there are factors that could keep Devers with the Sea Dogs at least for a few more days.

Boston needs to figure out what to do with Pablo Sandoval and Jhonny Peralta. While both are in Pawtucket, playing third base, it makes no sense to send Devers there.

Sandoval, of course, is the reason Boston needs third-base help. He’s batting .212/.622 in the majors and, on his current rehab, is batting .250. His rehab assignment ends after Sunday, so Boston either brings him back, cuts him or figures out another creative way to keep him out of the way.

Peralta, 35, is the veteran recently signed to a minor league contract. In 10 games, he’s batting .200 with two home runs. Peralta said he would be with Pawtucket for at least four more games, in a four-game series at Syracuse.

“We’ll see after that,” Peralta told Brendan McGair of the Pawtucket Times.

The PawSox return Monday to Pawtucket, which seems to be the time the Triple-A team could use a new third baseman.

Devers, of course, is yearning to get to the majors.

“He’s ready but it’s not his decision to make. But he feels ready,” his interpreter passed on.

Devers is batting .300 with a .944 OPS and 18 home runs in 77 games.

“Someone at that age to be that advanced, I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anything like it,” said Sea Dogs teammate and fellow All-Star Danny Mars. “I knew he was going to be something special the first time I played with him in 2015. He was 18 years old and he was hitting the hardest balls I’ve ever seen, and I’m thinking this guy is supposed to be in high school right now and he’s doing this.

“What’s scary is that he’s only getting better.”

Last season, Devers tried to get better too fast in Class A Salem, pressing and batting only .138 in April, then .233/.636 with four home runs in the first half. He adjusted and batted .327/.906 with seven home runs in the second half.

He’s handled Double-A pitching well.

“Doing better at pitch selection, swinging at the good pitches,” Devers said through the interpreter. “Struggled with that at the beginning of last year and have (since) gotten better.

“The power hasn’t changed that much, but the pitch selection has allowed (me) to hit more home runs.”

Twenty-year-olds normally don’t show such power and, again, that’s an area in which Boston could use a boost (last in the American League with 92 homers).

“Wherever the ball’s pitched, he makes contact,” said another teammate and All-Star, Teddy Stankiewicz, who recalled a game where a pitcher was “throwing 97, 98, 99 mph and, every pitch (Devers) fouled off. He threw him a change-up out of nowhere, and he hit it off the right-field fence.

“He’s just that talented where he has that hand-eye coordination. Even if he’s fooled … he has that ridiculous power.”

This was Devers’ second All-Star Game. He played in the major league Futures Game on Sunday and got the only hit – line single to right – off touted pitcher Brent Honeywell, who retired his other six batters.

On Wednesday, Devers went 1 for 2 with a single to right, and an eight-pitch strikeout – taking a 95 mph fastball on the outside corner. He left after five innings.

Mars started in left field and batted ninth. He went 3 for 4 with a double, two singles and a RBI. The East won, 7-1.

Stankiewicz pitched a 1-2-3 fifth inning with a groundout, flyout and strikeout.

Sea Dogs reliever Williams Jerez allowed one hit in a scoreless seventh, recording a strikeout.

Kevin Thomas can be reached at 791-6411 or:

kthomas@pressherald.com

Twitter: @ClearTheBases

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