Red Sox’ Rafael Devers turning page on debate over moving to DH amid slow start to season
"I feel like you guys need to change the subject because that is over and I'm the DH."
The designated hitter experience for Rafael Devers hasn’t gotten off to the best start.
Devers has gone hitless in the first two games of the 2025 season, going 0-for-8 at the plate as he begins his role as a full-time designated hitter. More concerning, Devers has struck out in seven of those at-bats and has whiffed on 14 pitches so far.
With how cold Devers has been at the plate, it’s easy to wonder if adjusting to the new role has impacted his performance, especially considering that he objected to the change at first. However, Devers insisted that any sour feelings about the positional switch are a thing of the past and haven’t affected his at-bats to start the season.
“I think that’s in the past,” Devers told reporters via translator about the position switch. “That was in spring training. Right now, we’re in the season. I’m a DH. I feel like you guys need to change the subject because that is over and I’m the DH.”
Red Sox manager Alex Cora also made it clear on Friday that the team is putting a pause on playing Devers at third base for the foreseeable future. He shared with reporters that Devers won’t play third base in games that starting third baseman Alex Bregman sits.
So, as Devers has no choice but to get fully accustomed to playing designated hitter on a full-time basis, he shared that he’ll seek guidance from two former franchise stars on how to handle the role.
“I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to either of them,” Devers said when asked if he’s spoken with David Ortiz or J.D. Martinez about being a designated hitter. “I did talk to David a little bit in spring training, but not about being a DH. But I think I’m going to have to take the time to call JD or David.”
Ortiz and Martinez are the two best designated hitters in franchise history, consistently producing at the plate over their respective tenures in Boston. But they weren’t immune to cold streaks, either. Ortiz had some slow starts to the season later in his career before heating up later in the year.
Of course, it’s only been two games for Devers. He admitted, though, that he’s still trying to get fully acquainted with hitting on a full-time basis.
“To be honest, I don’t know. I’ve never been in this position. I don’t know,” Devers said when asked if it’s harder to hit as a full-time designated hitter. “I feel very good at the plate. I just haven’t been able to hit the ball.”
In Friday’s 4-1 loss to the Rangers, Devers struck out swinging in all four of his at-bats. He also whiffed on four of the seven fastballs he swung at, which Cora believes was Devers’s downfall at the plate in the first two games.
“The at-bats are OK,” Cora said. “He’s doing a good job. It’s just one of those that he’s not catching up with fastballs. He’s going to keep working.”
While the position switch was the biggest story surrounding Devers in spring training, it wasn’t the only notable thing he dealt with during the exhibition season. He only got 14 at-bats in spring training because the Red Sox slowplayed his return as he dealt with a shoulder injury down the stretch of the 2024 season.
Devers doesn’t think his light spring training has any effect on how he’s performed at the plate so far.
“I did the work I needed to do,” Devers said of his spring training. “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.”
Devers isn’t sounding any alarm bells, either.
“It’s only been two games,” Devers said. “I feel comfortable at the plate. I feel good. I haven’t hit the ball, but I feel very good. It’s only been two games and I think everything will change.”
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