Rafael Devers’ adjustment to designated hitter is turning out to be more of a learning curve than any could have thought.
Devers set a new MLB record to start the Boston Red Sox season. No player before him has ever struck out 12 times in the first four games of a campaign.
He was also the first big leaguer to fan 10 times in the first three games.
The former third baseman went 0-for-4 in Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers with a walk to put the tying run on in the ninth the highlight of his season so far.
During NESN’s “Extra Innings Live,” former Red Sox closing pitcher Jonathan Papelbon had a unique way of phrasing Devers’ need to get into better physical shape.
“Maybe he’s out of shape,” Papelbon said. “Maybe we gotta trim a little bit of fat, Jim. You know what happens when you trim fat?”
“Well, we know they’re not in hitting shape, right? Because they’re not hitting. OK,” Red Sox legend Jim Rice replied. “We’re talking about trimming fat. What happens?”
“Pigs squeal,” Papelbon answered.
“Where is this going?” show host Tom Caron responded.
“I’m just saying, you trim fat, pigs squeal,” Papelbon repeated. “That’s what you’re looking for, your pigs to squeal. And hit home runs. But is it the shoulders? Is he in shape? We don’t know these things. But to me, it looks like the swing is just a little bit behind.”
“Pigs squeal” is Papelbon’s expression for making noise off of bats, hence home runs being hit.
Devers is now 0-for-16 in 2025.
