In an unprecedented turn of events, Boston Red Sox designated hitter Rafael Devers has set a new Major League Baseball record for strikeouts. This marks a historically poor start to the 2025 season.
Devers, who has been struggling since transitioning to the DH role, went 0 for 4 with a walk and three strikeouts in a recent game against the Texas Rangers. This performance extended his hitless streak to 12 at-bats and solidified his place in the record books with 10 strikeouts across his first three games.
Devers’ early-season struggles are particularly notable given his transition to the designated hitter role, a move he initially resisted. The Red Sox made this change to accommodate the free-agent signing of Alex Bregman.
Historically, many batters have faced challenges when moving to a full-time DH role, and Devers appears to be no exception.
Record-Breaking Strikeouts
According to SportRadar, Devers’ 10 strikeouts in his first three games set a new MLB record. This surpasses the previous high of nine strikeouts by five different players.
This statistic is alarming, especially for a player of Devers’ caliber, who has been a consistent offensive contributor throughout his career.
Transition to Designated Hitter
Devers’ transition to the DH role has been anything but smooth. Despite his initial resistance, he eventually agreed to the move to make room for Alex Bregman.
Devers has publicly stated that his current struggles are not related to the transition, but the data tells a different story. His performance metrics have significantly declined since taking on the DH role.
Analyzing Devers’ Performance Metrics
Three games is a small sample size, but the data provides some insight into Devers’ struggles.
He has faced a heavy diet of fastballs, which account for 75% of the pitches he’s seen. Unfortunately, his success rate against these pitches has been dismal.
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Fastball Struggles
Devers has swung at 20 two- and four-seam fastballs, missing 14 of those attempts, resulting in a 70% whiff rate. This is a stark contrast to his performance in previous seasons and raises concerns about his bat speed and timing.
Declining Bat Speed
Another troubling metric is Devers’ bat speed. In 2024, his average bat speed was 72.5 mph, with a 27.9% swing rate on pitches 75 mph or faster.
In 2025, his average bat speed has dropped to 69 mph, and his swing rate on pitches 75 mph or faster has plummeted to 12.9%. These declining metrics are indicative of a player struggling to adjust.
Historical Context and Future Outlook
Despite his current struggles, it’s essential to consider Devers’ overall career performance.
At 28 years old, Devers has a career batting line of .278/.344/.509 with a 126 OPS+. He has been a three-time All-Star and a two-time Silver Slugger Award recipient. His contributions have been worth an estimated 22.5 Wins Above Replacement, according to Baseball Reference.
Career Achievements
- Three-time All-Star
- Two-time Silver Slugger Award recipient
- Career batting line of .278/.344/.509
- 126 OPS+
- 22.5 Wins Above Replacement
Given these achievements, there is ample reason to believe that Devers will eventually get back on track. However, the current data suggests that he has significant adjustments to make.
Upcoming Challenges
The Red Sox, currently 1-2, are set to face the Texas Rangers in the series finale. Richard Fitts will take the mound for Boston, while the Rangers will counter with multi-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom.
This matchup presents another challenging test for Devers and the Red Sox lineup.
Team Performance
The Red Sox have had a rocky start to the season, and Devers’ struggles have been a significant contributing factor. The team will need him to regain his form to improve their standing as the season progresses.
Looking Ahead
While three games is far too small a sample size to make any definitive predictions, the early signs are concerning.
Devers’ performance in the coming weeks will be critical in determining whether his early-season struggles are a temporary slump or indicative of a more significant issue.
For more detailed information on Rafael Devers’ historically poor start to the season, you can read the full article on CBS Sports.
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