The Rafael Devers conversation hasn't gotten any less complicated
ARLINGTON, Texas - The Rafael Devers drama just won't die.
All of it was shot out of a cannon back on Feb. 17 with Devers' declaration that he was a third baseman and nothing else. Thirty-nine days later, it was Alex Cora's turn for a definitive statement.
"He's the DH of the Boston Red Sox," the Red Sox manager said prior to his team's 4-1 loss to the Rangers Friday night.
In between the two proclamations there was scarce Devers sightings in actual Grapefruit League games, more questions regarding his comfort level with not playing third base, and, ultimately uncertainty regarding exactly how prepared the slugger was for real baseball.
So, where have we landed?
Seemingly with the same sort of head-scratching feeling that continues to bubble chaos to the surface. For that we can thank a historically bad start in the Red Sox' first two games for Devers, who has begun the 2025 season by going 0-for-8 with seven strikeouts.
It's only two games. Understood. Heck, Devers went 0-for-13 to begin 2021 before having a fantastic season. But because all of the aforementioned circumstances leading up to this go-round, the questions are going to keep flying.
Is it living life as a full-time DH? Are the ailing shoulders that led him to strikeout three times in each of his final three games last season still an issue? Was Devers' uneven approach to participating in Grapefruit League games (he had 15 total plate appearances) a factor?
All of it is fair game considering the door that was opened in that mid-February verbal salvo by Devers.
Following the four strikeouts Friday night, Cora had his take.
"Not catching up with the fastball, it’s very simple. 3-2 counts the at-bats are OK, but not being able to cash in," the manager said, later adding, "There’s a lot of work in the cage, machine work and angle work and all that stuff they do over there. This is something that sometimes this happens and it just happens in two games. We’ve seen it happen before and at one point he’s going to catch up with one, hopefully to left-center, i always feel like as a hitter that’s where your strength is, especially him. The big part of the field comes into play and he can do what he can do."
Devers did seem all that concerned about his challenges with velocity.
"That’s been happening since I got called up," he said through translator Carlos Benitez. "I’m the same hitter that I was back then. I know who I am, and at the same time, it's only been two games, 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."
As for the DH conundrum, it would seem neither player or manager was ready to pin the problems on his new existence. The closest Devers came to embracing such a notion was when asked if he had reached out to either David Ortiz or J.D. Martinez for advice on living this sort of life.
"I haven’t had the opportunity to talk to either of them," he said. "I did talk to David a little bit in spring training but not about being a DH. I think I’m going to have to take the time to call J.D. and David."
It may all very well sort itself out on Saturday. The problem is that Friday offered a magnifying glass for Devers' issues, most notably thanks to the seventh inning. That was when with the bases loaded and the Red Sox trailing by three Devers fanned again, this time swinging and missing on an 89 mph fastball from lefty Hoby Milner.
It was the latest awkward step into the 2025 season. To this point, there has been more than Devers or the Red Sox could have ever anticipated.
"It’s only been two games," he said. "I feel comfortable at the plate. I feel good. Haven't hit the ball, but I feel I feel very good. It's only been two games, and I think everything will change."
