Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Focusing on CF, adding strength
Rotowire
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Wednesday that he would like to keep Rafaela in center field "as long as possible" next season, Foul Territory TV reports.
Chief baseball officer Craig Breslow said something similar last offseason, and while Rafaela made 129 starts in center field in 2025, he was also needed for 19 starts at second base. Rafaela posted a .752 OPS with 14 home runs and an 18.8 percent strikeout rate through the end of July but had just a .622 OPS with two homers and a 22.2 percent strikeout rate between August and September. Cora attributed Rafaela's late-season struggles to the 25-year-old wearing down, and the team has tasked Rafaela with getting "bigger and stronger" this offseason so he won't become fatigued as easily.
Rafaela went 2-for-4 with a triple and one RBI in Friday's 4-3 victory over Detroit.
The Boston center fielder played hero with the game tied in the ninth, ripping a one-out RBI triple off reliever Tommy Kahnle to win the game and secure his team's spot in the postseason. Rafaela had struggled in September prior to this performance, posting a .211/.273/.296 slash line in 77 plate appearances this month while sinking to the bottom third of the order. Overall, the 25-year-old is now slashing .247/.292/.412 with 83 runs scored and 63 RBI across 579 plate appearances.
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Tallies four hits in win
Rotowire
Rafaela went 4-for-5 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored in Friday's 11-7 win over the Rays.
While Rafaela contributed throughout the game, he scored twice and drove in another run across the seventh and eighth innings. It was the 29-year-old's first multi-hit performance since Sept. 2 -- a much-needed effort after he entered the contest stuck in a 6-for-49 slump this month. On the season, he's slashing .243/.288/.405 with 16 home runs, 61 RBI, 80 runs scored and 19 steals over 556 plate appearances.
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Second-half struggles continue
Rotowire
Rafaela went 1-for-4 with two strikeouts in Saturday's 5-3 loss to the Yankees.
Rafaela swung and missed at three pitches outside the zone with two runners in scoring position in the second inning. He later struck out swinging on a ball in the dirt with two runners on base. It continued a rough second half for the outfielder, who is slashing .188/.241/.276 since the All-Star break.
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Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Receiving rare day off
Rotowire
Rafaela is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.
Rafaela will hit the bench for the first time since Aug. 19, ending a streak of 19 consecutive starts for the 24-year-old. Considering he's posted a lowly .536 OPS over that 19-game stretch and has gone 1-for-22 with seven strikeouts over his last six starts, Rafaela likely stands to benefit from the break.
Rafaela went 2-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and two additional runs scored in Tuesday's 11-7 win over the Guardians.
After Cleveland stormed back from a 5-1 deficit with a six-run sixth-inning off ace Garrett Crochet, Rafaela stanched the Guardians' momentum with a two-run shot to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. The home run was his 16th, a new career high for Rafaela, who's known much more for his defense in center field than for his bat.
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Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Smacks go-ahead homer
Rotowire
Rafaela went 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run homer in Wednesday's 3-2 win over the Orioles.
Rafaela provided the decisive blow in Wednesday's victory with his 392-foot blast off Keegan Akin to put the Red Sox ahead 3-2. It's the 15th homer for Rafaela this season, though his first since July 13 -- he'd gone just 24-for-128 (.188) with a .491 OPS in his past 35 games entering the day. Overall, Rafaela is slashing .249/.292/.428 with 72 runs scored, 55 RBI and 19 stolen bases across 482 plate appearances this season.
Rafaela is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Orioles.
Rafaela is just 5-for-42 (.119) over his last 12 contests, so he'll get a day to regroup. Romy Gonzalez will occupy second base and Jarren Duran will patrol center field for the Red Sox.
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