ARLINGTON, Texas — Rafael Devers, the designated hitter for the Boston Red Sox, etched his name into an unfortunate part of MLB history by becoming the first player to strike out 12 times in the first four games of a season.
Devers struggled at the plate during Boston’s 3-2 defeat against the Texas Rangers on Sunday, with his performance including going 0 for 4 and adding two more strikeouts to his tally.
This milestone in batting woes was reached just one day after Devers set another record by striking out 10 times over the initial three games of the season.
Despite his challenges at bat, Devers managed to draw a crucial walk with two outs in the ninth inning of Sunday’s game, presenting the Red Sox with a shot to tie as he put a runner in scoring position.
The unfortunate record of 12 strikeouts surpasses the previous high of 11 over four games, a dubious achievement previously reached four times since 1901, according to Sportradar statistics.
Notably, Brent Rooker of the Athletics began last season with 11 strikeouts. Other players sharing this prior record include Ronald Acuña Jr. of Atlanta in 2020, Minnesota’s Byron Buxton in 2017, and Houston’s Brett Wallace in 2013.
Devers has transitioned exclusively to the designated hitter role following Boston’s offseason acquisition of third baseman Alex Bregman, solidifying his position as the primary DH for the Red Sox as the season unfolds.