It’s a role Rafael Devers didn’t want, and he has yet to deliver.

During the game on Saturday night, the Red Sox’s newest designated hitter achieved a new record by being the first player in the major leagues to strike out 10 times in the initial three games of the season.

In a tough 4-3 defeat against the Rangers, Devers ended up with zero hits out of four attempts and struck out three times. In his final at-bat during the ninth inning, he swung and missed a 92.3 mph cutter thrown by his former teammate Chris Martin.

Aside from a bases-loaded walk in the second inning on Saturday, Devers is 0-for-12 to start the year.

Outside of the batter’s box, the former third baseman was also dealing with drama during the offseason and into spring training.

Upon the Red Sox’s signing of the long-standing Astros player Alex Bregman to a lucrative $120 million contract for three years, Devers was reassigned to the designated hitter position. Initially, there was a lack of enthusiasm about this change during the start of training camp.

“Third base is my position,’’ Devers, who’s in the second season of a 10-year, $313.5 million contract, said through an interpreter in February. “That’s what I’ve played. I don’t know what their plans are. I know we had a conversation. I made it clear what my desires were, and yeah, whatever happens from here, I don’t know.”

The 28-year-old has been with the Red Sox since 2017 as the strong third baseman.

Later on, however, Devers changed his mindset about the switch.

“We spoke already, and I’m good to do whatever they want me to do,” Devers told reporters in March in reference to conversations with manager Alex Cora and chief baseball officer Craig Breslow. “I’m here to help. I’ve already spoken with them about that, and they know where I stand. I’m just ready to play.”

On Friday, Devers also shrugged off the idea that his slow start is correlated to his position change.

“No, I think that’s in the past,” he said, according to MLB.com. “That was in spring training. Right now, we’re in the season. I’m a DH and I feel like you guys need to change the subject because that is over and I’m the DH.”

The previous record of nine strikeouts within the first three games was reached five times since 1901, according to SportRadar.

Brent Rooker (Athletics, 2024), Will Benson (Reds, 2023), Jack Cust (Rockies, 2002), Greg Luzinski (Phillies, 1974), and Wally Post (Reds, 1956) accomplished the ignominious feat.