FORT MYERS, Fla. – To hear Ceddanne Rafaela discuss baseball is to listen to somebody converse with pleasure, appreciation, and an virtually childlike sense of marvel, as if he can’t imagine he will get to play this sport for a residing.
All of which is sensible for somebody who’s solely 23 years outdated and nonetheless a rookie.
Rafaela speaks softly and smiles typically, a pointy distinction with the participant he’s on the sector, a assured defender whom evaluators imagine could be a perennial Gold Glove centerfielder.
But first, he has to make the big-league roster.
In that means, this offseason feels “the same” because the one earlier than, he mentioned within the clubhouse on Friday. “Last year, I had the same mentality, to fight for a spot.”
The distinction is the 28 Major League video games he now has beneath his belt. After starting final season in Double-A, he earned a promotion to Triple-A in late June. Almost precisely two months later, he bought the decision.
The big-league expertise was eye-opening. “One of the best things ever in my life, in my career, and it helped me a lot,” he mentioned. “Showing me how’s the game at the highest level, I think it helps me a lot going into this spring and this season.”
“The game shows you that you have to keep working hard every day,” he added. “Out there, it’s every day, you learn something new.”
Alex Cora has spoken at size about Rafaela’s probabilities at making the Opening Day roster and his potential. “We know the defensive game is elite,” he lauded earlier within the week. “It’s a game-changer.”
The supervisor is taking the constructive reinforcement route as he guides the rookie. “(He) just tells me, keep being me,” Rafaela mentioned. “He’s not putting any pressure on me, so I’m feeling good, have a good relationship with him. He’s one of the best coaches… he’s just telling me, be myself, be the player you are and just keep working hard.”
The true take a look at for Rafaela is similar because it’s at all times been: plate self-discipline. He went 20-for-83, together with six doubles and a pair of dwelling runs, slashing .241/.281/.386 within the Majors final 12 months, however he struck out 28 occasions and solely drew 4 walks. Almost each participant wants time to regulate to the Majors, however it was a far cry from his .302/.349/.520 slash over the 108 video games he performed between Double- and Triple-A.
After an intense offseason of coaching, he arrived at camp feeling like a extra selective hitter. “Right now, I feel pretty good,” he mentioned. “Feel pretty confident going into the spring.”
When it involves his protection, he’s confident, however not cocky in regards to the projections. “I’m pretty confident in my glove, the work I can do there,” he mentioned. “I don’t feel like I’m there, but I work hard every day and I feel like I can win a Gold Glove.”
Rafaela additionally brings center infield expertise to the desk; like Mookie Betts, he moved to the outfield on the Double-A degree, and shortly impressed with jaw-dropping catches. Though the Red Sox see him making the roster to play middle, he’s nonetheless doing infield work “almost every day,” and the defensive versatility may give him a leg up. “It’s a good chance,” he mentioned. “It’s part of my game, it’s what I’ve been doing for the last couple years, and I’m happy with it.”
This sport is difficult work, particularly for somebody attempting to defend inside Fenway Park’s distinctive outfield dimensions, however it appears like all play as a result of Rafaela speaks so appreciatively about his craft. “It’s fun to just play defense, it’s fun to make the outfield catch,” he mentioned. “To be the starting centerfielder would be really, really, really fun.”
“To be there the Opening Day, first day, to help the team win this year, I mean, that’s big, that’s huge for me, for my career,” he acknowledged. Above all, “just gonna keep working hard, keep being a good teammate, keep going every day out and do my best.”
To enhance upon his already spectacular protection, Rafaela research footage of himself and centerfielders. “I really like to see my plays, and the other guys in the business right now,” he mentioned. “Kevin Kiermaier is, for me, one of the best in the game right now. I really like how he goes about it.”
Born in September 2000, Rafaela grew up a Red Sox fan. His favourite participant was Manny Ramirez. “I watched Jackie Bradley (Jr.) in centerfield, and see how good he go about it,” Rafaela mentioned. “Watching all those games helped me.” He additionally realized loads from watching Adam Duvall at spring coaching final 12 months.
The most notable exception to his Red Sox fandom is Andruw Jones. Rafaela idolizes legendary Atlanta Braves centerfielder. They each hail from Curaçao, the small Caribbean island close to the Venezuelan coast that, together with neighboring Aruba and Bonaire, make up the ABC islands. “Every kid wants to be Andruw Jones in Curaçao,” he mentioned.
During his 12 seasons in Atlanta, Jones gained 10 consecutive Gold Glove awards between 1998 and 2007. He performed one other 5 seasons earlier than retiring, spending time in Los Angeles Dodgers, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, and New York Yankees uniforms.
He and Rafaela don’t know one another all that properly, although Rafaela mentioned they’ve “messaged a couple times.”
“If I had the chance to ask for advice, it would be awesome,” he mentioned, trying starstruck.
What would he ask Jones? Rafaela smiled.
“How he did it.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com