ARLINGTON -- Rafael Devers has been a hitter his whole life, if not a designated hitter.
His first two games in his new role haven¡¯t been pretty. After striking out four times in Friday¡¯s 4-1 loss to the Rangers, Devers set an ignominious franchise record as the first Red Sox player to punch out seven times in the first two games of the season, during which he went 0-for-8 without reaching base.
In his session with the media on Friday night, Devers had an unfazed demeanor about his early struggles, indicating he will make the adjustments and get back to being the hitter the Red Sox need him to be.
¡°I feel comfortable at the plate. I feel good,¡± Devers said. ¡°I haven¡¯t hit the ball, but I feel very good. It's only been two games, and I think everything will change.¡±
Everything did change for Devers in February when the Red Sox acquired Alex Bregman not only for his big bat from the right side, but for his stellar defense at third base. In fact, Bregman won the American League¡¯s Gold Glove Award last season.
Two days after the acquisition of Bregman became official, Devers balked publicly at moving to DH.
But he said his initial reluctance at moving off the hot corner has nothing to do with his rough start to the season.
¡°No I think that¡¯s in the past,¡± Devers said. ¡°That was in Spring Training. Right now, we¡¯re in the season. I¡¯m a DH and I feel like you guys need to change the subject, because that is over and I¡¯m the DH.¡±
Devers does have the advantage of having the phone numbers of two of the best designated hitters in Red Sox history in David Ortiz and J.D. Martinez, the latter of whom he played with for five seasons.
Has he reached out to either of them?
¡°No, I haven¡¯t had the opportunity to talk to either of them,¡± said Devers. ¡°I did talk to David a little bit in Spring Training, but not about being a DH. I think I¡¯m going to have to take the time to call J.D. and David.¡±
In the meantime, what is manager Alex Cora¡¯s evaluation of Devers in his short sample size to open the season?
¡°Not catching up with the fastball,¡± Cora said. ¡°It¡¯s very simple. [He¡¯s getting] 3-2 counts. The at-bats are OK, but not being able to cash in.¡±
In his final at-bat on Friday, Devers had a golden opportunity to silence all the talk about his adjustment to DH when he came up with the bases loaded and one out. Devers worked a seven-pitch at-bat, but struck out on an 89 mph fastball from Rangers lefty Hoby Milner.
¡°I went up there to do my job, trying to bring the runs in,¡± Devers said. ¡°But he struck me out.¡±
Devers didn¡¯t dispute Cora¡¯s assertion that fastballs have been his nemesis thus far. But he also provided a reminder that he¡¯s gotten in fastball ruts at other times in his career. Most memorable was a 2021 road series against the Astros in May when Devers got beat on one heater after another. That wound up being one of his best seasons.
In fact, in another similarity to 2021, Devers opened that season 0-for-13.
¡°That¡¯s been happening since I got called up,¡± Devers said. ¡°I¡¯m the same hitter that I was back then. I know who I am. I know that I haven't done my job and I haven't done what I'm supposed to do.¡±
Throughout the final two months of the 2024 season, Devers struggled badly as both of his shoulders were injured. The Red Sox shut him down for the final eight games.
Devers spent the entire winter rehabbing and strengthening his shoulders, so health doesn¡¯t appear to be an issue.
How about adapting to the routine of life as a DH?
¡°I¡¯ve never been in this position, so I don't know [if that¡¯s an issue],¡± said Devers. ¡°I feel very good at the plate, I have my routine. I tried to stay warm. I tried to go warm to the plate.¡±
This was a different spring for Devers as he spent weeks working on his timing on the backfields and didn¡¯t play in his first Grapefruit League game until March 15.
¡°I did the work I needed to do,¡± Devers said. ¡°I worked on my swing. I didn¡¯t focus on anything else. I feel comfortable. I feel on time. It¡¯s just a matter of time.¡±