The Red Sox know exactly what position they want Seddan Rafaela to focus on, but they don’t know if he’ll do it in Boston or Worcester. The decision will come down to what he can do with the bat.Raffaella earned his first big league experience in 2023 and demonstrated a defensive versatility that made him a highly regarded talent.
The 23-year-old has started at shortstop, second base and in the outfield, but will focus primarily on the outfield if he remains with the Red Sox.”If Raffaella joins the team, I think he’ll play center field,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters Tuesday in Fort Myers, Florida. “It’s been a good offseason. He’s spent the last month in Tampa getting in shape, working on his swing and stuff like that. What we think about it matters. We know our defensive game is elite.
This is a game changer. “If we’re comfortable knowing that a kid playing in the midfield is going to compete at a high level in attack, then we’re going to go that route. If we feel like we have it, we’re going to do it.”Rafaela’s bullying issues are rooted in her decisions, which haven’t improved significantly despite frequent soap operas during her teenage journey. Last season, he went 4-for-89 with a .281 on-base percentage. This means he could have a roster spot if the Red Sox keep him on the roster because of his defensive abilities.
Cora talked about how other teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Blue Jays took a similar approach last season.Boston has plenty of options in the outfield, with Jarren Duran, Tyler O’Neal, Rob Refsnyder, Villers Abreu and (sometimes) Masataka Yoshida competing for spots alongside Rafaela and potential free agents. Rafaela’s strong showing in spring training could complicate the Red Sox’s final decision.
