The Boston Red Sox 2025 MLB season is underway, and there is a lot to be excited about. There are fresh new faces and bigger expectations.
Boston is expected to compete in the AL East with a strong young core, highly ranked prospects, and a reloaded pitching staff.
Rafael Devers is a familiar face for the Boston faithful, who see him on the wrong side of MLB history after the Red Sox’s first three games.
Rafael Devers hitting for the Boston Red Sox.
© Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Boston’s 28-year-old lefty slugger has struck out 10 times in his first 12 at-bats, an MLB record through a team’s first three games.
It is also important to note that the sluggish start occurs while he is also transitioning to the Red Sox’s full-time designated hitter position. It is unclear whether that is taking a toll on Devers.
Since Boston had another game on Sunday, Devers now has 12 strikeouts in 16 at-bats and remains hitless.
He is also still searching for his first hit in the young season. However, what is common knowledge about Devers is that he does strike out a fair amount. He’s had 110+ strikeouts in the past four seasons, which isn’t all bad, but two of those seasons saw him strike out 140+ times (2021,2024).
The Red Sox are in the midst of a four-game set with the Texas Rangers, but Boston will need to get some sort of production out of Devers soon because it hinders the offense.
The concern is that all of the Rangers’ starters in this series have been righties. It’s still too early in the season to make conclusions, but being only a hitter now could affect the Red Sox’s most prominent bat.
