What good is a delegated hitter who cannot hit? It is a query the Purple Sox discover themselves asking.
After being relieved of third-base duties this offseason, Purple Sox designated hitter Rafael Devers has one job. And to date in 2025, he is failing miserably.
On Monday, Devers’ horrific begin to the 2025 season continued after the three-time All-Star went 0-of-3 with three strikeouts in an 8-5 loss to the Orioles (3-2).
By way of 5 video games, Devers has but to file a success, going 0-of-19 with 15 strikeouts. It is his longest hitless streak to start a season in his nine-year profession.
The 2-time Silver Slugger Award winner entered the season with a profession .278 batting common, beginning 942 of 980 video games at third base.
This offseason, the Purple Sox (1-4) signed free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman. After initially refusing to move from his corner infield position, Devers relented during spring training and moved to designated hitter.
The shift made sense for the Purple Sox. Devers was a legal responsibility as a fielder, main the AL in third-base errors for seven consecutive seasons (2018-24). His 141 profession errors are essentially the most amongst lively third basemen.
Shifting Devers to DH, the place he may concentrate on the one factor he is first rate at, was an inexpensive concept that hasn’t labored out as deliberate.
The MLB season is a marathon, not a dash, so Devers may nonetheless have an impressive season. Simply final yr, he batted .188 by means of 13 video games earlier than ending 2024 with a .272 common.
Nevertheless, his poor 2025 begin continues his droop from late final yr. In his final 36 video games a season in the past, Devers slashed .191/.279/.294, hitting three residence runs and placing out 45 instances in 136 at-bats.
Batting second in Boston’s lineup, Devers’ lack of manufacturing is very regarding. If it continues, the Sox might want to contemplate transferring him down the order till he finds his type. Contemplating his reluctance to maneuver from third regardless of it being within the staff’s greatest curiosity, we won’t think about that being an pleasant dialog.
Devers and the Purple Sox may quickly attain a breaking level. If their designated hitter is not recording hits, they’re going to have to search out somebody who will.
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