The Red Sox Have Big Expectations for Rafaela
The Boston Red Sox were one of the teams that made the biggest splash in the free agent signing period last year when they inked young center fielder Saidan Rafaela to a hefty eight-year, $50MM contract extension. The deal sent shockwaves throughout the baseball world as fans and pundits eagerly awaited Rafaela’s arrival in the major leagues.
Fast forward to the 2024 season, and Rafaela has had a promising start, despite a slow start at the plate. With an impressive 12 earned runs and a +7 earned run average in just 748.0 career innings as a center fielder, Rafaela has lived up to his potential as a defensive outfield prospect. However, his performance in center field has been overshadowed by his struggles at shortstop, where he’s posted a -3 defensive rating and -8 fielding rating in 692.0 innings.
Given the Red Sox’ need for a strong infield presence, the team’s chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, has made it clear that they plan to keep Rafaela in center field “as much as possible.” The reasoning is simple: Rafaela’s performance in center field far surpasses his performance at shortstop, and the team wants to capitalize on his defensive prowess.
Rafaela’s versatility is a valuable asset to the Red Sox, and his ability to play multiple positions is essential to the team’s success. While he has struggled at the plate, his talents in the field make him a crucial component of the team. With his willingness to adapt and adjust to different positions, Rafaela is more than just a one-dimensional player.
The question, however, remains: what will the Red Sox do when star shortstop Roman Anthony is ready to make his major league debut? Anthony has already shown promise in the minor leagues, posting a .982 OPS and 162 wRC+ in 35 Triple-A games last season. The Red Sox have a talented right-handed bat in the making, and Rafaela may find himself on the sidelines.
Another position that may be up for grabs is second base. David Hamilton is expected to start at the position in 2024, leaving Rafaela’s skills as a utility infielder potentially underutilized.
But, despite potential congestion in the outfield, Breslow is determined to keep Rafaela off the infield, stating that he believes that playing between the infield and outfield may affect Rafaela’s performance at both positions.
Rafaela’s seeming limitations at the plate have sparked concerns about his potential impact on the team. While he has a .664 OPS and 79 wRC+ in his 180 career games, it is worth noting that such statistics may fluctuate and Reggie Jackson said, “Year two is going to be at it every pitcher’s worst.” Statistically, he might have slumped once/down. Maybe.
