Papelbon: Devers struggling because he's 'out of shape'
Former Boston Red Sox pitcher Jonathan Papelbon believes Rafael Devers' struggles to start the season are the result of his conditioning.
"He's out of shape," Papelbon said following Boston's 3-2 loss to the Texas Rangers on Sunday.
"Maybe we gotta trim a little bit of fat," Papelbon continued as part of a colorful rant.
"Maybe [Rafael Devers] is out of shape... Maybe we gotta trim a little bit of fat... Know what happens when you trim fat? Pigs squeal... You trim fat, pigs squeal. That's what you're looking for- your pigs to squeal. They hit home runs." - Jonathan Papelbon
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 30, 2025
(h/t: @gfstarr1) pic.twitter.com/iJy2mtRX2K
Devers is off to a horrible start to the 2025 campaign, going 0-for-19 with 15 strikeouts through five games. The Red Sox star also set an MLB record over the weekend, becoming the first player to strike out 10 times in the first three games of a campaign.
The 28-year-old had just 14 at-bats during spring training after working his way back from a shoulder injury.
He was also in the middle of some offseason controversy about where he would play after Boston signed another third baseman, Alex Bregman, in free agency.
Devers has consistently been among the worst defensive third basemen since debuting for the Red Sox in 2017.