RAFAELA CONFIDENT HIS
OF prospect working on game in Double-A
Coming off a breakout 2022 in which he emerged as the fastest-rising prospect in the Red Sox system, everything seemed to be coming up Ceddanne Rafaela’s way entering spring training.
The 22-year-old from Curaçao had been added to the 40-man roster, was playing every day for the big league club in camp and was even offered a chance to play with Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic — an opportunity he turned down in favor of immersing himself with his big league teammates.
It seemed like a nobrainer Rafaela would start the season in TripleA, but when camp broke he was given the disappointing news that he’d be starting off back in Double-A, where he spent the bulk of last season.
Why? For all his immense talent and a flair for the highlight-reel play in center field, the club felt Rafaela had more work to do refining his approach at the plate.
“Defensively and on the bases, he’s showing all the skill that he has. Frankly, the skill that he has in those areas is probably beyond that level,” Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom told the Herald earlier this week. “But we sent him there for a reason.”
Hearing that news was undoubtedly disappointing, but for Rafaela the mantra has been simple. It’s not about where you start, but where you finish.
“I’m making better (at bats) this year,” Rafaela said Wednesday before Portland’s game against the Hartford Yard Goats. “Even if the numbers are not what I expect right now, I’m happy with how it’s going right now.”
So far Rafaela hasn’t gotten the same results in Portland as he did much of last year. The Red Sox’ No. 3 prospect is currently batting .261 with only one home run through 32 games after hitting 21 last year, including 12 over 71 games at Double-A following his midseason promotion.
But that’s partially a product of the adjustments Rafaela is trying to incorporate into his game. Typically aggressive and freeswinging at the plate, Rafaela had one of the highest chase rates in the Eastern League last season but also proved capable of driving the ball and doing serious damage when he swung at pitches in the zone. The goal now is to cut down on the bad swing decisions and put together better atbats.
Brian Abraham, the Red Sox director of player development, said they don’t expect things to change overnight and understand there may be some bumps in the road along the way.
“It’s not as day to day as some people may look at it, it’s a bigger picture, it’s an approach, it’s a process,” Abraham said. “I think he’s made some progress in that, certainly not the point where he’s ready for a Triple-A call-up tomorrow, but we’re seeing adjustments, we’re seeing a better overall approach and understanding of the strike zone.”
If Rafaela is able to gain greater mastery of the strike zone, he has the tools to potentially become a game-breaker. He is already considered a Gold Glove-caliber center fielder and whenever he gets on base he is capable of wreaking havoc.
Just ask the Somerset Patriots, against whom Rafaela stole nine bases in two games last weekend, including an absurd six last Saturday alone.
“The last couple of years I wanted to steal 30 bases and always fell short,” said Rafaela, who swiped 28 bags last year and is already up to 20 so far in 2023. “This year (I want) to get 30 bases for sure.”
Abraham said that while Rafaela was disappointed to hear he’d be starting in Double-A, he took the news as well as he could have hoped and has taken the club’s feedback to heart. Given that he’s already on the 40-man, Rafaela may still be just one outfield injury in the big leagues away from making his MLB debut — look no further than Enmanuel Valdez, Rafaela’s spring training running mate who got pressed into duty after Christian Arroyo and Yu Chang both got hurt.
However long it takes, Rafaela said he’s determined to put in the work and take the next step toward realizing his big league dream.
“I was hoping to start in Triple-A but I didn’t really think about it that much,” Rafaela said. “It doesn’t matter where I start, it’s where I finish this year.”