Versatility is key for Red Sox’s Ceddanne Rafaela
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Lorenzo Delgado, Contributor
- August 29, 2024
Big stage is not new for Ceddanne Rafaela
HOUSTON – Even now that he is in the majors, Ceddanne Rafaela still reminisces about playing in the Little League World Series. The Boston Red Sox outfielder from Curacao participated in the 2012 Little League World Series.
Rafaela’s hometown team from Willemstad, Curacao, represented the Caribbean region. They were 2-2 in the 2012 Little League World Series. A young Rafaela introduced himself to a nationally televised audience that year.
“I think that experience I can say was one of the best of my childhood,” Rafaela said. “It was fun and a pleasure to play there.”
Curacao ties
Ceddanne Rafaela comes from an athletic family. His father Cezela Rafaela played baseball. His mother Recheline Rafaela played softball.
They loved baseball so much, Recheline gave Ceddanne the middle name “Chipper Nicasio Marte” in honor of Hall of Famer Chipper Jones. She enjoyed watching Jones play when he was with the Atlanta Braves.
They also enjoyed watching the Braves because of Andruw Jones, the 10-time Gold Glove winner and a native of Willemstad, Curacao.
Ceddanne Rafaela currently shares the field with countryman Kenley Jansen, whom Rafaela calls a “legend.”
“Before I signed, everybody knew who Kenley Jansen was,” Rafaela said. “I’ve been watching everything he does in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and here. It’s been nice to be close and watch what they can do.”
Gold Glove comparison
Rafaela signed with the Red Sox for a $10,000 signing bonus as an international free agent in 2017. Baseball scouts were impressed by his athleticism, speed, hands and versatility. Moreover, defensively, scouts compared the 5-foot-8 outfielder to four-time Gold Glove winner Kenny Lofton.
Rafaela quickly made his athleticism and versatility known. He played at third base, second base, shortstop and all three outfield positions in the minor leagues. In 2022, the Red Sox named Rafaela the franchise’s minor-league Defensive Player of the Year.
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The following season, he was named the minor-league base runner of the year. Rafaela is adamant that he didn’t have one position in mind.
“I just wanted to get here and help the team,” he said. “I think that’s the main goal.”
In that same year, Ceddanne Rafaela made his major league debut. He finished the 2023 season hitting .241 with 20 hits, six doubles, two home runs, five RBIs and three stolen bases in 20 games. From that small sample size, he perceived there was room for improvement.
Rafaela knew he had a chance to make the Opening Day roster this season.
“I thought I really had something,” Rafaela recalled of his last season. “But this year I can say I’ve learned because I’ve been here the whole year. You have to know in your mind that it’s a long season. I think that’s the most important part of this game.”
It’s just the beginning for the rookie
Rafaela’s versatility garnered him a spot on the Red Sox’s Opening Day roster and in the starting lineup. He’s batting .258 with 120 hits, 13 home runs, 61 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and a .298 wOBA.
Defensively, the 23-year-old rookie has played 75 games at shortstop, 74 in center, six at second and four at third base. Rafaela leads qualified American League rookies in RBIs (61), hits (120), total bases (187), and runs (64).
He also ranks second in stolen bases (17), third in home runs (13), extra-base hits (36), and fourth in batting average (.259).
Rafaela signed an eight-year, $50 million contract extension at the beginning of this season. With a 165-pound body frame, there’s room for Rafaela to get bigger and stronger.
“He’s been good,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Rafaela. “It’s not easy to do what he’s doing to play shortstop and elite defense in center field. Moving around during games is not easy to do, especially in your first full season in the big leagues. And he’s done it.”
Lorenzo Delgado
Contributor
Lorenzo Delgado graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University and is currently attending the University of Houston to earn his master’s degree. Lorenzo was formerly a contributing baseball writer for Call to the Pen on the Fansided Network. He is the host of an Astros baseball podcast called Full Seam Ahead, which is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts and wherever podcasts are found.
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