Red Sox slugger Rafael Devers' 2025 season is off to a historic start, but not in the way the three-time All-Star might have hoped.
After going 0-for-4 with three strikeouts against the Rangers on Saturday and 0-for-4 with two more strikeouts on Sunday, Devers is now 0-for-16 with 12 K¡¯s on the year. He¡¯s the first MLB player on record to strike out at least 12 times in the first four games of a season. Five players held the previous mark of 11 K's through four games, most recently Brent Rooker last season and Ronald Acu?a Jr. in 2020.
Devers¡¯ struggles have come as he tries to settle into a new role as Boston¡¯s everyday designated hitter, having been displaced as the team¡¯s starting third baseman by free-agent addition Alex Bregman, the American League Gold Glove Award winner at third base in 2024.
When the Red Sox signed Bregman to a three-year, $120 million deal, Devers was vocal about his preference to stay at third base, the position where he¡¯s spent the entirety of his career. However, the Red Sox ultimately opted to go with Bregman over Devers, who ranked last among qualifying third basemen with -34 Outs Above Average across 2020-24. (Bregman had +17 OAA in that same timeframe.)
It's worth noting that Devers didn't have a normal buildup to the season. After spending the offseason rehabbing his shoulders, which bothered him late in the 2024 campaign, he logged only 15 plate appearances during Spring Training. Devers also insisted after Friday's game that his move to DH has nothing to do with his rough start to the season. Still, if his offensive struggles persist, questions about his new role could intensify.
Two issues that have been interrelated are timing and catching up to the fastball. Devers made alterations with his foot placement that haven¡¯t paid off so far.
¡°That's something that we have noticed,¡± Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. ¡°Without going too deep into it, if you're not grounded, you're not going to be on time. Obviously we know Raffy needs to get on the fastball. How we¡¯re going to get there is the question.¡±