If you think it’s just a slow start for Rafael Devers, think again. He’s currently in entirely unfamiliar territory. The 28-year-old, three-time All-Star has been one of the most dangerous hitters since 2019, but right now, he seems to be completely out of sync. He’s not the same player Red Sox fans have come to expect. So, what went so wrong? The “unrest” began with Alex Cora’s announcement to move him off third base and make him a full-time designated hitter. And a Dominican Insider didn’t hold back from pointing that out!

Insider Hector Gomez emphasized the worried state of mind of every Dominican fan watching Devers crumble on the field. He firmly believes the star slugger is affected by this transition, which, of course, he didn’t ask for. Gomez even claimed that Devers looked visibly upset in his post-game interviews when he was asked about his slump.

Gomez and every other fan have every right to be concerned. After all, he is the same guy who was a two-time Silver Slugger winner, with a remarkable 2019 season where he hit .311 with 32 homers and 115 RBIs. Now, given the 15 strikeouts in 19 at-bats, Gomez fears this is the most alarming aspect. It’s also reasonable, as Devers broke the previous record of 11 strikeouts in four games, set by Brent Rooker and Ronald Acuna Jr.

Interestingly, the Red Sox never explicitly said, “Well, if we sign Bregman, we’re gonna move Devers to DH.” They never even informed Devers about signing Alex Bregman for the third baseman position. Instead, they signed Bregman and then they tried to deal with it. In fact, back in February, Devers clearly stated, “I’m not moving, I’m not going to first, I’m not DHing. I’m a third baseman.” But, of course, it wasn’t in his control.

And to make matters worse, Bregman has also not been performing quite well. But, unlike Devers’ sheer disappointment in himself or the position he’s given, Bregman is moving forward with a rather positive mindset. “This is a hard-working group, and I really have extremely high expectations for this team this year,” he said about the team. If this continues, there will be no end to criticism of Cora’s decision.

Rafael Devers’ Slump Continues as Alex Cora Dismisses DH Concerns

Devers’ start to the season wasn’t bad; it’s historically bad. On the brighter side, the culprit is out: his bat speed, which has taken a serious dip. This raises the question of whether it’s because his shoulders still have the lingering pain. Cora says no! While addressing Devers’ slump, Red Sox manager dismissed the theory that Devers’ shoulder is causing the real problem.

Well, that’s not the only thing he believes. He also claimed that putting Devers at DH has no connection with his ongoing slump. Suprise Suprise! Regardless of the cause of his struggles, one thing is pretty clear here: Devers can’t be replaced. He has played a crucial role in the Red Sox, and if anything, this slump highlights how much the team relies on him.

With the internet flooded with opinions on Devers’ struggles, you may have missed Trevor Story’s rough start as well—he hit just 2-15 with 6 strikeouts. When asked about his recent shoulder injury, Story revealed that it’s been better. The only problem is that he’s chasing too many bad pitches.

While Devers and Story are making headlines for their struggles, Kristian Campbell has been thriving and is a bright spot for the team. Believe it or not, his home run off Jacob Webb ranks among the 20 hardest-hit baseballs in the league so far this season. Campbell’s speed has been a great addition to the Red Sox lineup.

For now, Devers and Story need to turn things up for good. If that doesn’t happen, Campbell’s breakout alone won’t be enough to carry this lineup.