All that changed when Devers signed a 10-year, $313.5 million contract, in the post-Mookie, post-Xander chaos that took the franchise to the bottom of the AL East in 2022 and 2023. The big money brought new attention and responsibilities and Sox Nation came down hard on Devers last month when he balked at the notion of moving to DH to accommodate new Sox third baseman, Gold Glover Alex Bregman.
We didn’t see much of Devers after that fateful, rather hilarious day when he kept delivering his high-pitched “No!’’ (which required zero translation) to DH questions in Fort Myers. Devers looked overweight, was recovering from shoulder woes, and played in only five spring training games. The Sox kept him out of sight and off the airwaves.
On the eve of the regular season, the team announced that Devers will, in fact, be their designated hitter, and this was followed by probably the two worst games of Devers’s big league career.
In Boston’s thrilling, 5-2 Opening Day win Thursday, Devers fanned three times and grounded weakly to first. The next night, in a 4-1 loss, Devers went for the Golden Sombrero, striking out in all four at bats, including a killer K with the bases loaded and one out in seventh. He swung and missed 13 times in the two games.
“It’s only been two games,’’ a calm Devers said late Friday. “I feel comfortable at the plate. I feel good. I haven’t hit the ball, but I feel everything will change . . . I know who I am. 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.’’
It’s hard to watch this and not wonder if the switch to DH is playing mind games with Devers. The Sox didn’t talk to Devers about this change — or even suggest it might happen — until Bregman was acquired on the eve of spring training. Devers was clearly wounded by the request and was reported he wanted out of Boston.
The Sox played it smooth and close-to-the-vest throughout February and March. They let Devers cool off, and allowed manager Alex Cora to cajole the young slugger into accepting the new role. It all sounded good until we saw Devers in the first two games in Texas. Yuk. Was this just a couple of bad games, or is the DH role messing with Devers head?
I asked him. Does being a DH, instead of a third baseman, make it harder to hit?
“To be honest, I don’t know,’’ Devers answered, via translator Carlos Villoria-Benitez. “I’ve never been in this position, so I don’t know. I feel very good at the plate, I just haven’t been able to hit the ball. So I don’t know.’’
Sitting around between at-bats, instead of playing third base, means Devers needs a new routine. Doe he have his new routine down?
“I have my routine,’’ he said. “I try to stay warm and go warm to the plate. But it’s only been two games. [Saturday] I’ll come back here and I’ll try to hit the ball.’’
One more try: Does being a DH give him too much time to think about his at bats?
“No, I think that’s in the past,’’ he said. “That was in spring training. Right now we’re in the season and I’m the DH and I feel like you guys need to change the subject because that is over and I’m the DH.’’
OK. We’ll change the subject. But it’s not going to be pretty.
Devers’s’ weight could be an issue. He looks big. Almost Panda big. He told us in spring training that he’s 240 pounds. The Sox press guide lists him at 245, highest since he turned professional in 2013. The Sox claimed he was 235 last season.
In 2015, when Devers was in the minors, Boston listed his weight as 210 pounds. Now they’ve got him 30 pounds heavier and he’s in a new role that makes it harder to keep the weight off.
If he hits, who cares? A few extra lbs. didn’t seem to hurt Big Papi in his DHing prime. Whenever Earl Weaver was asked about the big belly on his MVP Boog Powell, Earl would say, “He don’t look too [expletive] fat to me when he’s rounding the bases after hitting them homers!’’
Devers said he might take a moment to talk with Ortiz or former teammate J. D. Martinez about this DH role. But he went into Saturday night’s game certain the hits will come.
“I feel comfortable,’’ he insisted. “It’s just a matter of time . . . I know I have’t been able to hit the ball in the zone quite yet, but that’s something that’s going to come.’’
Dan Shaughnessy is a Globe columnist. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @dan_shaughnessy.
