Ceddanne Rafaela has earned a spot on the Red Sox's Opening Day roster for the first time after an impressive spring.
Alex Cora praised Rafaela as dynamic, athletic, versatile, and a good kid when announcing the news to reporters on Saturday afternoon.
Rafaela has been known for his outstanding defense and is now showcasing improved plate discipline during spring training. He has a .275 batting average with a .896 OPS and has hit six doubles, three home runs, scored seven runs, and driven in eight. He has also stolen 2 bases in 3 attempts, drawn four walks, and struck out 12 times.
Ranked as the organization's No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Rafaela made his debut on Aug. 28 and has primarily played in the outfield. He has also spent some time at shortstop and second base, despite being primarily a third baseman and shortstop in the minors.
Jarren Duran has also made his first Opening Day roster, as expected after Cora named him the week before the first full-squad workout. leadoff man There is no change in this text.
