Red Sox's Rafael Devers Faces Tough Start, Sets Unwanted MLB Record

Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers is off to a rocky start this MLB season, and unfortunately, his performance has landed him in the record books for all the wrong reasons. Over the first three games, Devers stepped up to the plate 12 times, striking out a staggering 10 of those attempts — a stat that is now officially the worst strikeout rate to kick off any MLB season on record, according to USA Today.

Devers' struggles are casting a shadow over what was already a challenging season start for the Red Sox. After a promising Opening Day victory against the Texas Rangers, where Boston secured a 5-2 win, the team has since dropped their next three games, leaving them with a 1-3 record. Not exactly the kind of momentum Red Sox fans were hoping for.

Adding to the drama is the tension lingering from spring training. Manager Alex Cora and Devers had some back-and-forth over whether he’d continue playing third base or shift to being the team’s full-time designated hitter. Eventually, Cora confirmed Devers would take on the DH role exclusively, but it seems the adjustment hasn’t been smooth sailing.

Despite these early-season woes, the Red Sox clearly have faith in their star slugger. Devers signed a jaw-dropping $313.5 million contract extension in January 2023, and his performance last season — 28 home runs and a .272 batting average — showed why he’s considered one of the league’s premier players.

Still, this rocky start has fans and analysts scratching their heads about whether Devers can shake off the dust and deliver the kind of performance Boston desperately needs to turn things around. The pressure is undoubtedly on as the season progresses, and all eyes will be on Devers to see if he can bounce back.