Ceddanne Rafaela has seen his stock skyrocket in 2022
Although the 2022 season has been full of disappointment for the Red Sox, Ceddanne Rafaela has been a glimmer of hope.
Photo Credit: The Boston Globe
The 2022 season has been full of disappointment for the Boston Red Sox. While the major league team has struggled, there have been glimmers of hope in the minors. One prospect that has stood out is 21-year-old Ceddanne Rafaela. In his fourth professional season, Rafaela has become one of the most watched players in the Red Sox farm system.
Through 102 games this year, Rafaela is hitting .303 with 59 extra-base hits. The Curacao native has been a run-producing machine with 68 runs batted which is a new career high. Although he has split time between two levels, Rafaela has not seemed phased by advanced competition.
After hitting .330 in 45 games at High-A, he was promoted to Double-A Portland in June. While Rafaela has cooled off a bit, his potential has been on full display, with 32 runs batted in 57 games. He has also hit ten home runs in Portland and posted a .850 OPS. However, his impact has not only been felt at the plate.
In the field, Rafaela has been a human highlight reel. He has only committed three errors this season and turned 16 double plays. Although most of the highly touted prospect’s time has been spent in the outfield, he has seen time at second base and shortstop.
While Rafaela is not projected to make his MLB debut until next season, his value has skyrocketed over the last few months. At the begging of the season, he was Boston’s 22nd-ranked prospect, and now he is fourth. He has shown a blend of power and speed in the minors with 77 career stolen bases. If that mix can translate to the big leagues, Rafaela will not be an ideal matchup for opponents.
Rafaela will likely finish the season in Double-A as the season winds down. Entering the 2023 campaign, he will only be a few calls from the majors and his highly anticipated debut.
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