Red Sox to promote prospect Ceddanne Rafaela to Triple-A Worcester
After totaling almost 600 plate appearances with the Portland Sea Dogs, Ceddanne Rafaela has been promoted to the Worcester Red Sox. The Red Sox #3 prospect has been much improved at the plate since the first month of the season.
Hitting .294/.332/.441, he’s been a better hitter compared to his taste of AA last season. While the approach has looked better since his early slump, Rafaela still routinely chases and will swing and miss. With a 20.7% K% so far this season, the organization will hope to see him rein in his swing a bit more in his time in AAA. Regardless, he’s put in strong numbers given his age.
Where Rafaela has really thrived this season is in centerfield with his 80-grade defense. For a prospect to have an 80-grade at any tool is phenomenal, but to boast that tool as a center fielder is special. Constantly making highlight reel web gems and throwing runners out at the plate, he also makes the above-average difficulty plays look like pieces of cake.
His well-above-average speed not only helps him patrol the outfield but also swipe bags. Also a phenomenal base runner, he has 30 stolen bases on the season.
Still just his age-22 season, Rafaela will likely have to put some time in at AAA before a promotion. If he can perform in Worcester similarly to how he did in Portland, perhaps a late-season promotion could be in the cards for him to get a taste of the big leagues. Overall this is a great sign of how the Red Sox view the progression of Rafaela.
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