BOSTON, MA - NOVEMBER 2: Craig Breslow speaks alongside President & CEO Sam Kennedy as he is officially introduced as Chief Baseball Officer of the Boston Red Sox during a press conference on November 2, 2023 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
Ceddanne Rafaela could make unexpected run at AL Rookie of the Year for Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox prospects cache is starting to pay some dividends. Ceddanne Rafaela is one of the most notable among them, whom the Red Sox signed to a long-term deal with just a few games under his cleats.
Rafaela will reward them with a Rookie of The Year for 2024, as we go into full hyperbole mode. Some exaggerated positives? Why not?
On offense, Boston has three rookies making noise among their first-year brethren: Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu, and David Hamilton. At the one-third juncture, Rafaela has topped all American League freshmen in runs, home runs, and RBI through May 31.
The interesting statistical note is speed. Smart and speedy base running is key to the modern game of baseball, a generally ignored item in Boston’s past. All three Red Sox first-year guys are leading the rookie contingent in steals.
The party line on Rafaela’s defense was that he is Gold Glove-caliber at two positions — outfield and shortstop. Sox fans have yet to see that, but there have already been several highlight-reel plays in both positions. Rafaela has collected +3 defensive runs saved in the outfield and -2 at short, which won’t secure him any prizes. Fred Lynn (21/103/.331) won a Gold Glove in 1975 as a ROY, and Rafaela will not match that. Can he match Lynn’s home runs? An inviting and doable target.
Ceddanne Rafaela is the Red Sox rookie with the best skill set for American League Rookie of the Year
Rafaela’s 26.1 K% shows that his approach at the plate needs refining, especially when coupled with a 3.4 BB%. He follows the baseball tradition of being a “free swinger” — comparable to Rafael Devers — but he’s shown promise as his batting average and OBP is heading north, not south.
Red Sox rookies’ offensive standards are Ted Williams (31/145/.327) and Walt Dropo (34/144/.322). Teddy Ballgame went to the Hall of Fame, and Dropo went back to Mosseup, Connecticut. There was no ROY when Williams played, but the Moose got the 1950 award.
