Rafaela making strong case for Sox CF job

When the Red Sox opened camp last month, manager Alex Cora said rookie Ceddanne Rafaela would have the opportunity to compete for the starting center field job, and that whether or not he earned the role would dictate everything else the club did finalizing its roster.

With each passing day, it’s looking more and more likely Rafaela might be able to pull it off.

Ceddanne Rafaela has enjoyed a terrific showing this spring, including a two-run homer in an 8-6 loss to the Cardinals, and over the past week there have been growing indicators he could be playing his way into the starting lineup.

Last weekend he traveled to the Dominican Republic and started both games in Santo Domingo at center field, and then on Tuesday he was in the lineup again alongside all of the club’s other projected Opening Day starters.

More interestingly, Rafaela got the nod in center while Jarren Duran moved over to left field, and Tyler O’neill, who had exclusively played left since joining the Red Sox, bumped over to right.

— Mac Cerullo,

Boston Herald

Mets: Darryl Strawberry suffered a heart attack Monday night and is now recovering, the former Mets and Yankees star announced.

Strawberry, who turned 62 on Tuesday, praised God for saving his life in an Instagram post that included a photo showing him in a hospital bed at Missouri’s SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital.

“I am so happy and honored to report that all is well,” Strawberry, a resident of O’fallon, Mo., said in the announcement, which went out around midnight.

“So thankful for the medical team and staff at St. Joseph West in Lake St. Louis for responding so quickly and bringing me through a stent-procedure that has brought my heart to total restoration!!! Your prayers are so absolutely appreciated as I continue to recover, in Jesus Name!”