FORT MYERS, Fla. — Alex Cora still has yet to announce that Rafael Devers will be Boston’s designated hitter, but on Wednesday, he left little doubt.

Cora, speaking before Boston’s matinee against the Tigers at JetBlue Park, noted that Devers would “probably not” get any time at third base during the five games remaining on Boston’s Grapefruit League schedule. Instead, Devers served as the DH on Wednesday (0 for 3) and will get plenty of at-bats in the final handful of games before remaining in Fort Myers to work out and take part in minor league games when the team travels to Monterrey, Mexico, for two exhibition games early next week.

The writing is clearly on the wall that Devers will be the DH, even if the Red Sox aren’t saying it out loud. Alex Bregman has still not gotten any reps at second base in game action and Devers will enter the season having not played an inning in the field during games. Due to a slow rehab from shoulder soreness that bothered him last season, Devers has played in just two major league spring games.

“I’ll say that whenever I have to say it but right now, Breggy is playing third today and Raffy’s DHing today,” said Cora.

After signing Bregman early in spring training, Red Sox officials said they were undecided about whether he’d play third (his career position where he won a Gold Glove in 2024) or shift to second. In the weeks since, it has become abundantly clear — through both the team’s actions and Devers’ words — that the Sox envision Bregman as the everyday third baseman and Devers as the DH. The reason is thought to have much to do with the club’s desire to want to hand over the second base position to a young player, likely Kristian Campbell.

Late last week, Devers — who initially bristled at the idea of moving off third base to accommodate Bregman — was less defiant than he had been earlier in camp, noting he was willing to do what the team asked of him. He has taken ground balls at third base on back fields throughout camp.

“I just want to help the team win,” he said. “Whatever position I’m playing, I always take these things as a competition and as a way to get better.

“I’m good to do whatever they want me to do. I’m here to help…I’m just ready to play.”

In his career, Devers has started 21 games as a designated hitter, and in that small sample size, has hit well. In 87 plate appearances, he’s 23 for 81 (.284) with four homers, six doubles and an .822 OPS. While there’s a case to be made that having him spend less time on his feet in the field can keep him healthier at the plate, there’s another school of thought that designated hitters could struggle to adapt to a new, less athletic role. On Tuesday, Cora said he expects the transition to be a seamless one.

“They find their routines. That’s how it is,” Cora said. “I’ve heard a lot of people saying not everybody can do it, but you know what? Every DH has played a position before. You don’t come up to a big league as a DH. You’re playing somewhere and then you’re the DH. So I think the 30 DHs in the big leagues or whatever, they have found their routines.”

PROSPECT MARCELO Mayer started at second base Wednesday against the Tigers in part because Cora wanted to give Campbell and David Hamilton a day off after they have played a lot recently.

But the 22-year-old Mayer, who Boston selected with the fourth overall pick in 2021, also remains in the mix with Campbell and Hamilton for the Opening Day second base job.

Mayer had an RBI triple in the second inning of a 6-4 win. Jarren Duran went 2 for 4 with two RBI and his first spring homer. Ceddanne Rafael was 2 for 3 and also drove in two runs.

Cora said Mayer has worked a lot at second base this spring.

Mayer has made all but two of his 240 minor league starts at shortstop. The other two starts came at third base. Cora recently called him “an old school kind of shortstop” who is smooth and has good instincts.

“He cares about defense and he loves it,” Cora said. “And defense comes easy for him. Whatever you put him — second, short, third, we’re comfortable with it. He’s a good defender.”

Mayer is 11 for 31 (.355 batting average) with a homer, two triples, 10 RBI and six runs in 16 Grapefruit League games.