Ceddanne Rafaela earned special honors on Tuesday
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For Ceddanne Rafaela, the 2022 season has been full of milestones. The 22-year-old has seen his stock soar as he terrorized minor league pitching and played elite defense. On Tuesday, he was recognized for his talent and named the Red Sox’s 2022 Minor League Player of the Year by Baseball America. For many, it came as little surprise.
In 116 games split between High-A Greenville and Double-A Portland, Rafaela hit .299 with 63 extra-base hits. The Curacao native set career highs in every offensive category and reached the 20-home run mark for the first time in his career. While he was a force at the plate, he also terrorized opponents on the bases.
The Red Sox’s third-best prospect stole 28 bases and was only caught stealing seven times. Rafaela made an impact every time he stepped on the field and has become one of Boston’s most well-known prospects. Due to his power surge, his future looks brighter than ever.
While Rafaela dazzled at the plate, he was just as good in the field. He showed gold glove caliber defense on a nightly basis and only committed four errors this season. In 950 innings of work, he recorded 74 assists and turned 18 double plays. Regardless of the position Rafaela excelled.
Although Rafaela will likely start the 2023 season Double-A, his stay could be short. He is projected to make his MLB debut in 2024 and posted a .274 batting average in his first stint with Portland this season. He did not seem overwhelmed at the plate and was aggressive on the basepaths.
After starting the season as the Red Sox's 28th best prospect, he has become one of their most talked about minor leaguers. He is now Boston's highest-ranked outfield prospect and has a swing that is very similar to a former Red Sox MVP and current Dodger Mookie Betts. While that similarity has sparked excitement amongst Red Sox fans, Rafaela is making a name for himself.
Due to his performance this year, more eyes will be on Rafaela than ever in 2023. He has shown that he can handle advanced competition, and he has the potential to be a future star in the majors.
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