“From DH Debate to Diamond Distress: Rafael Devers Strikes Out in Historic Fashion!”

In an unexpected twist to the 2024 MLB season, Rafael Devers finds himself in unfamiliar territory. Despite his emphatic declaration during the offseason that he would not accept a transition to designated hitter after the Boston Red Sox brought in Alex Bregman—an established third baseman—Devers has now swallowed that bitter pill. The stakes are high, and so far, he hasn’t risen to the occasion in his new role.

After a rough start, which saw him striking out three times during a narrow 4-3 loss to the Texas Rangers this past Saturday, his struggles have only compounded. This marks a historic low for Devers, who has now accumulated a staggering ten strikeouts in just three games—the most by any player in MLB history at this juncture of the season. It’s the kind of statistic he never imagined he’d be associated with, and it begs the question: can Devers find his footing as he adapts to this unexpected change?

At just 28 years old, Devers is not only a three-time All-Star but also a cornerstone of the Red Sox’s clubhouse culture. His entire career—over eight seasons—has been spent largely at third base, where he has been an integral part of the team’s identity. Yet, with Bregman now anchoring that position, Devers finds himself grappling with a new identity and trying to prove that he can still be a significant offensive threat from the DH spot.

The Red Sox’s decision to shift Devers into the designated hitter position raised eyebrows, particularly following his adamant refusal to change positions earlier in spring training. His sentiments were clear: “My position is third base,” he insisted. But with Bregman’s acquisition changing the dynamics, the organization has shuffled the deck, leaving Devers to ponder whether he can adjust without losing his competitive edge.

As we dive deeper into Devers’ performance, it’s hard to ignore the potential psychological toll this shift might be taking on him. With an 0-for-12 start and a staggering ten strikeouts, the correlation between discomfort in his new position and failure at the plate is becoming difficult to overlook. While one could argue it’s still early in the season, the pressure is mounting for Devers to prove that he belongs—and that he can thrive, even when the circumstances are less than favorable.

Stay tuned as we continue to monitor Devers’ journey this season and whether he can shake off this early-season slump. LEARN MORE

Rafael Devers was adamant in the offseason that he didn’t want to move to designated hitter after the Boston Red Sox acquired Alex Bregman to play third base.

But he did. And he’s failing to deliver in his new role.

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Devers struck out three times in Boston’s 4-3 loss to the Texas Rangers on Saturday. He now has 10 total strikeouts, the most by any player in MLB history through the first three games of the season.

Devers struck out three times in Boston’s season-opening win against the Rangers. He struck out four times in Boston’s 4-1 loss to Texas on Friday. Now he’s carved out a spot in MLB history that he certainly would rather have not.

Devers, 28, is a three-time All-Star and a senior member of the Red Sox clubhouse who’s played his entire eight-plus season MLB career in Boston. He’s spent the vast majority of that time at third base, where he’s played 951 of his 956 MLB games.

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In the offseason, the Red Sox signed Bregman as a free agent from the Houston Astros. Bregman also plays third base and is a Gold Glove winner who’s objectively better at the position than Devers. Devers is one of the worst third basemen in baseball via multiple advanced metrics, including outs above average (OAA) and fielding run value (FRV).

But Devers made clear in spring training that he had no interest in ceding third base to Bregman. Through an interpreter, Devers told reporters in February that he told Red Sox management “no” when they asked him about moving to designated hitter.

“Like I said, my position is third base,” Devers said. “Whatever it is that they want to do is what they want to do, but I feel like my position is third base.”

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After some public uncertainty about the issue from manager Alex Cora in spring training, the Red Sox made the obvious decision. Bregman is playing third base, and Devers has moved to designated hitter.

Is it fair to draw a correlation between Devers’ displeasure over his new position and his 0-for-12 start at the plate with 10 strikeouts? Maybe not?

But it certainly doesn’t look great.