ARLINGTON, Texas – On Saturday night, Rafael Devers, the designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox, etched his name into the annals of Major League Baseball history by becoming the first player to accumulate 10 strikeouts in the inaugural three games of a season.
During Boston’s narrow 4-3 loss to the Texas Rangers, Devers experienced another challenging game. He went hitless, logging 0 for 4 at the plate and facing three more strikeouts. His struggles were particularly evident in his final at-bat in the ninth inning when he was caught swinging at a 92.3 mph cutter delivered by former teammate Chris Martin. Despite his struggles, Devers did manage to draw a bases-loaded walk in the second inning, making him 0 for 12 in hitting attempts this season.
The record-breaking nature of Devers’ performance lies in the surpassing of the previous initial-season record of nine strikeouts over the first three games, a feat that was achieved five times since 1901. Comparatively, Brent Rooker of the Athletics was the latest to approach this mark last season, while Cincinnati’s Will Benson had reached it in 2023. Historically, the record was also shared by Jack Cust from Colorado in 2002, Philadelphia’s Greg Luzinski in 1974, and Wally Post with Cincinnati in 1956.
As the Red Sox’s full-time designated hitter, a role that comes after the offseason decision to acquire third baseman Alex Bregman, Devers faces heightened expectations and pressure to perform. This season’s start has certainly been rocky, but he will look to turn things around as the season progresses.