Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Will begin season in Double-A
Rotowire
Rafaela will begin the 2023 season with Double-A Portland, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Many expected Rafaela to open in Triple-A after he finished the 2022 campaign with the Sea Dogs, but the 22-year-old will get more action in the Eastern League before moving on to Triple-A. A source tells Starr that the organization wants the right-handed hitter to work on his approach at the plate without having to adjust to the higher level. Even with the outfielder opening the season in Double-A, there's a chance Rafaela spends time with the major-league club before the season comes to a close.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Shipped to minor-league camp
Rotowire
The Red Sox optioned Rafaela to Triple-A Worcester on Monday.
Rafaela established himself as one of Boston's top outfield prospects last season after slashing .299/.342/.538 with 21 home runs and 28 stolen bases in 518 plate appearances between stops at High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. The 22-year-old earned himself a spot on the 40-man roster this offseason along with an invitation to big-league spring training. Though he fell short in his longshot bid for a spot on Boston's Opening Day roster, Rafaela could push his way to the big leagues at some point later in 2023 if he continues to mash at the highest level of the minors.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: To be used mostly in CF
Rotowire
Rafaela will see most of his playing time in center field this spring, Gabrielle Starr of the Boston Herald reports.
Rafaela has experience all over the diamond and will also see some action at shortstop this spring. However, Red Sox manager Alex Cora views the top prospect's defense in center field as "plus plus" and that's where he'll be stationed more often than not. The 22-year-old was added to Boston's 40-man roster over the offseason following a breakout 2022 campaign which saw him post an .880 OPS with 21 homers and 28 steals between High-A and Double-A.
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
Rafaela was added to Boston's 40-man roster Tuesday, Christopher Smith of The Springfield Republican reports.
Rafaela is one of the better prospects who needed to be protected from the upcoming Rule 5 draft. A 22-year-old center fielder, Rafaela hit .278/.324/.500 with 12 home runs and 14 steals in 71 games at Double-A. It's unclear if he'll head back to that level or get the bump to Triple-A at the start of 2023.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Earns BA honors
Rotowire
Rafaela was named by Baseball America as Boston's Minor League Player of the Year, Alex Speier of Baseball America reports.
Rafaela looked overmatched early in 2021 while with Single-A Salem, but Salem hitting coach Nelson Paulino worked with the him to remove a pre-swing hitch that created too much movement. The results were immediate last season, but few anticipated the breakout season Rafaela has experienced in 2022. The 22-year-old hit .299/.342/.539 with 21 homers, 10 triples, 31 doubles, 28 stolen bases, 26 walks and 113 strikeouts in 116 games split between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland. The one-time shortstop has handled the transition to center field with aplomb, and the the 5-foot-8, 152-pounder should add more power as he matures.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Delivers Sea Dogs to playoffs
Rotowire
Rafaela went 2-for-6 with a grand slam in win for Double-A Portland on Wednesday that clinched a playoff berth for the Sea Dogs.
Rafaela's bat, which had cooled in August, is hot once again. He's currently riding a seven-game hit streak, during which he's 12-for-32 with 15 RBI. At 5-foot-8, 159 pounds, Rafaela doesn't present as a powerful hitter, but he leads Boston's minor leaguers with 62 extra-base hits. Red Sox manager Alex Cora discussed the prospect Friday, telling Christopher Smith of MassLive.com, "it's very unique. His body, obviously he's not a big guy, but he's a strong kid. He punishes the ball to right-center. It seems like he has made progress as far as like swing decisions and all that." Rafaela has played both center field (89 starts) and shortstop (20 starts) and shows elite defense at each. He'll be Rule 5 eligible in the offseason, so the Red Sox will need to add Rafaela to the 40-man roster.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Cooling off some
Rotowire
Rafaela has hit just .194/.310/.333 over his last 10 games for Double-A Portland.
He's still managed to hit a homer and steal three bags in that time, so it hasn't been all bad. The 21-year-old still has a hearty .280/.340/.508 batting line in 48 games since being promoted to Double-A. With 18 homers and 25 steals across two levels this season, Rafaela has shown off an exciting tool set. His plate discipline could still use a bit of work, but Rafaela looks like he's on track to crack the majors at some point next season.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Unfazed by Double-A
Rotowire
Rafaela was promoted to Double-A Portland on June 5 and has hit .310/.375/.621 with two homers through his first seven games there.
This comes on the heels of a remarkable 45-game run in High-A during which the 21-year-old Rafaela batted .330/.368/.589 with nine homers and 14 steals. At the time of his promotion, he led the South Atlantic League in batting average, hits and runs. Though he's a free swinger who's going to accumulate a fair share of strikeouts and thus may not ultimately hit for lofty average, Rafaela's tools and defensive versatility have made him a rising star in Boston's organization. The Red Sox aren't known for promoting prospects this quickly, which says a lot about what they think of Rafaela.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Hits for cycle
Rotowire
Rafaela hit for the cycle for High-A Greenville on Tuesday, posting a single, double, triple and home run in five at-bats against Hickory. He drove in two runs and scored three.
He's now cruising along with a .312/.353/.567 batting line accompanied by eight homers and 10 steals. Rafaela cooled off for a little while after his red-hot start, but he's on another heater now, having hit .366 across his last nine contests. The electric 21-year-old doesn't walk much (4.7 percent), but his strikeout rate is a reasonable 22.7 percent. His well-rounded skill set and defensive versatility (he's mostly played center field this year, but he's seen time at second and short as well) should send him flying up the prospect lists when they get their midseason update.
... See More... See Less
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Red-hot start in High-A
Rotowire
Rafaela is hitting .395/.422/.861 with five homers, 11 RBI and four steals through nine games with High-A Greenville.
That sure is a lot of power from a guy who's listed as a scrawny 5-foot-8, 152 pounds. Rafaela flashed some pop (10 homers) and terrific base-stealing ability (23-for-26) in Low-A last year, but his start to this season has been a real attention grabber -- especially after he impressed in major-league spring training. Moreover, the Sox have tried him out at almost every position between last season and this one, and he's excelled defensively all over the field, which will make it easy for him to find his way up to the big team sometime in the next couple years if he keeps hitting the ball with authority.
