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Rafaela went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 9-2 loss to Houston.
Rafaela, batting ninth, launched his first home run of the season in the eighth inning. He's been a rare bright spot in a struggling offense, batting .250 (4-for-16) and ranking second among the team's qualified players. The Red Sox have lost four consecutive, and the offense has been non-existent in two straight lopsided losses to the Astros.
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Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Out of Sunday's lineup
Rotowire
Rafaela is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Reds, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports.
Rafaela went 3-for-9 with an RBI and a run scored in the first two games of the season and will receive a day off for Sunday's series finale in Cincinnati. Jarren Duran will shift to center field while Roman Anthony receives a turn at designated hitter.
Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: OK following collision in outfield
Rotowire
Rafaela is in the lineup for Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reports.
Rafaela was involved in a scary collision with teammate Roman Anthony on Friday as the two players tracked a flyball to left-center field, which left both players down for a brief period of time. Anthony got the wind knocked out of him, but both players stayed in the game and will start Saturday's contest. Impressively, Rafaela later homered against Atlanta ace Chris Sale in the third inning, Rafaela's second home run of the spring.
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.
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