Mar 27, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Boston Red Sox designated hitter Rafael Devers (11) walks in the dugout in the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images

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Rafael Devers Hits Troubling MLB Low Mark After Position Change

Should Rafael Devers play third?

Rafael Devers’ transition to designated hitter hasn’t exactly gone according to plan.

For years, Devers has been a quiet but reliable presence in the Boston Red Sox lineup, a pure hitter who lets his bat do the talking. But after signing a massive 10-year, $313.5 million contract, expectations changed. And when the Red Sox brought in Alex Bregman, a Gold Glove-winning third baseman, Devers was asked to shift to DH, a move he openly resisted in the offseason.

Rafael Devers has struck out 10 times through 3 games, which is an MLB record through the first three games of a season.
pic.twitter.com/d6ZObNC47P
— Gordo (@BOSSportsGordo) March 30, 2025

Now, just a few games into the new season, the results have been concerning.

In Boston’s 5-2 Opening Day win, Devers struck out three times and weakly grounded out. A day later, he wore the dreaded Golden Sombrero, striking out in all four of his at-bats, including a critical bases-loaded opportunity in the seventh inning. Across two games, he swung and missed 13 times, looking uncharacteristically lost at the plate.

“It’s only been two games,” Devers said after Friday’s loss. “I feel comfortable at the plate. I feel good. I haven’t hit the ball, but I feel everything will change … 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, but I know that everything will change.”

The Red Sox dugout after the game… pic.twitter.com/Ayi1uUWp1k
— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) March 30, 2025

The concern, though, isn’t just the slow start, it’s whether the switch to DH is affecting Devers’ approach, confidence and maybe his overall feeling about the clubhouse? The Red Sox didn’t inform him of the potential position change until Bregman’s signing was official, and reports indicated that Devers was initially frustrated by the decision. The team downplayed the situation in spring training, but early returns suggest the adjustment hasn’t been seamless.

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Boston manager Alex Cora remains confident that Devers will settle in, but the numbers are troubling. Over his first three games, Devers is hitless in 12 at-bats with 10 strikeouts, one of the worst starts of his career. And while small sample sizes can be deceiving, his struggles have reignited the debate over whether moving him off third base was the right call.

The reality is that Devers’ defensive struggles made the decision an easy one for the Red Sox front office. According to advanced metrics like Outs Above Average (OAA) and Fielding Run Value (FRV), he has consistently ranked among the league’s worst defensive third basemen. Bregman, by contrast, is an elite defender, making the shift a logical choice from a roster-building standpoint.

Still, there’s a mental aspect to consider. Devers’ resistance to the change was well-documented, and now, after a brutal opening stretch, questions are swirling about whether the transition is affecting his mindset at the plate.

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For now, the Red Sox are standing by their decision. But if Devers continues to struggle, the conversation about his role in Boston’s lineup will only get louder.

Alex Bregman

Rafael Devers

Red Sox

Mohsin Baldiwala

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Mohsin Baldiwala is a Master’s student in Journalism and freelance content producer who got hooked on baseball through Seinfeld’s hapless George Costanza. The same reason why he’s a Yankees fan. He writes about sports because he believes it can offer a brief escape from the world’s chaos. Even if that means enduring the heartbreak of the 2024 World Series.