Fantasy News

• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Taking seat Wednesday

  Rotowire Jun 19, 2024

  Rafaela is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays, Mac Cerullo of the Boston Herald reports. Rafaela will get his first day off since May 30, clearing the way for Romy Gonzalez to pick up a start in center field. Though he's cobbled together a modest .687 OPS for the season, Rafaela has been running hot of late at the dish, slashing .468/.490/.596 with four extra-base hits and two stolen bases over his last 12 games.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Sizzling bat continues in win

  Rotowire Jun 19, 2024

  Rafaela went 3-for-4 with a double, a stolen base and an RBI in Tuesday's 4-3 win over Toronto. Rafaela drove in the game-winning run with an eighth-inning single. The rookie's bat continues to sizzle; Rafaela has hit safely in seven consecutive games, including multiple hits in six of those contests. He's 16-for-26 (.615) with three doubles, a home run, two steals, four RBI and six runs scored during the streak.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Four hits, four RBI in win

  Rotowire Jun 7, 2024

  Rafaela went 4-for-6 with four RBI and one run scored in Thursday's 14-2 win over the White Sox. Rafaela entered Thursday 0-for-10 across his last three games before enjoying a breakout performance. While all four of his hits were singles, three of them led to more runs on the board for the Red Sox. The 23-year-old is slashing a meager .215/.243/.374 through 62 contests, but he's batting .276 (16-for-58) over his last 16 games. Rafaela has added seven home runs, 37 RBI, 29 runs scored and eight stolen bases this season.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Goes yard twice in win

  Rotowire Jun 1, 2024

  Rafaela went 2-for-4 with two home runs and five RBI in Friday's 7-3 win over the Tigers. Per Ian Browne of MLB.com, Rafaela has made some tweaks to his swing mechanics in an attempt to get going at the plate, and the adjustments seem to be paying off. The 23-year-old put together his first career multi-homer game by launching a three-run shot off Kenta Maeda in the fourth inning before tagging Joey Wentz for a two-run blast in the sixth that just cleared the Green Monster. Over the last 11 games, Rafaela is batting .289 (11-for-38) with three homers, two steals, nine runs and 10 RBI.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Not starting Thursday

  Rotowire May 30, 2024

  Rafaela isn't in Boston's lineup for Thursday's game against Detroit, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports. Rafaela went 0-for-4 during Wednesday's loss to Baltimore, putting an end to his four-game hit streak. He'll take a seat versus Jack Flaherty and the Tigers while Rob Refsnyder starts in the outfield, moving Connor Wong into the DH role and allowing Reese McGuire to start behind the plate.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Making adjustments

  Rotowire May 30, 2024

  The Red Sox advised Rafaela to hold his hands lower in his stance, Julian McWilliams of The Boston Globe reports. He went 0-for-4 in Wednesday's loss to Baltimore and is batting .206 with a 25.7 strikeout percentage. The goal of the hands adjustment is to cut down on all the movement needed to catch up to fastballs. "Be on time," Boston manager Alex Cora said. "We've been talking about it, showing him examples. It happens that we're here, too, [in Baltimore] and can use [the Orioles] as an example of how short they are to the ball and how they use their hands." Rafaela's been inconsistent overall but has hit better recently, going 9-for-33 (.273) over the last nine games while batting safely in seven of those contests.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Climbs above .200 again

  Rotowire May 27, 2024

  Rafaela went 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base and a run scored in Sunday's 2-1 win over the Brewers. Rafaela's eighth-inning double put him in position to score the winning run. He has multiple hits in two straight games and has gone 7-for-22 (.318) over the last six. That's pushed his batting average to .208, the third time he's climbed above the Mendoza Line this season. Rafaela is a bit of conundrum. He leads the Red Sox in RBI (28) and is fifth in extra-base hits (16), but he's not exactly a good hitter. Boston manager Alex Cora told Alex Speier of The Boston Globe that Rafaela has "big moves" in his swing as he tries to hit for power -- how he loads the swing, the leg kick and the swing itself. For long-term success, Cora believes Rafaela needs to shorten his swing.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Gets break Friday

  Rotowire May 17, 2024

  Rafaela is not in the starting lineup for Friday's game against the Cardinals. Rafaela will get a break as Boston kicks off its series against the Cardinals. The second-year major leaguer opened the campaign as the Red Sox's primary center fielder but has mostly played shortstop over the past month. The lineup absence marks his first time on the bench since April 11.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Swats fourth homer Tuesday

  Rotowire May 15, 2024

  Rafaela went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Tuesday's 5-4 extra-innings win over the Rays. It was a roller coaster night for the 23-year-old. Rafaela gave Boston a 3-1 lead in the fifth inning by taking Aaron Civale deep for his fourth long ball of the year, but his throwing error in the top of the 11th nearly gave Tampa Bay the win. The Red Sox were able to tie the game back up in the bottom of the frame, though, in part thanks to Rafaela's sacrifice bunt, before winning it in the 12th. Rafaela has collected a hit in 10 of 12 contests in May, batting .275 (11-for-40) on the month with two doubles and two homers, but his 1:11 BB:K is a warning sign that his numbers could swoon quickly as they did in April (.515 OPS in 26 games.)

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Drives in two

  Rotowire May 12, 2024

  Rafaela went 1-for-3 with a two-RBI double during Sunday's 3-2 win over Washington. Rafaela scored Garrett Cooper and Vaughn Grissom in the second inning, notching a double off MacKenzie Gore. Rafaela has generated at least one hit in 11 of his last 13 games, batting .326 with 12 RBI and six runs scored during that stretch.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Plates seven in monster game

  Rotowire Apr 27, 2024

  Rafaela went 4-for-4 with a home run and seven RBI in Saturday's 17-0 victory over the Cubs. There were big numbers throughout the Red Sox' lineup in this laugher, but Rafaela takes top billing. His home run came in the seventh inning off reliever Colten Brewer, and he also had a pair of doubles, one of which that cleared the bases in the fifth inning. As if that wasn't enough, Rafaela also stole his fourth base of the season and scored three runs. The 23-year-old had just 14 hits all season coming into Saturday's action, along with a 26.8 percent strikeout rate. While Saturday's performance was a peak at Rafaela's upside, he'll likely remain a volatile fantasy play.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Declared everyday shortstop

  Rotowire Apr 25, 2024

  Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Rafaela is viewed as the team's everyday shortstop at this point, Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. Cora has said as much through his actions -- Rafaela will make his sixth straight start at shortstop Thursday versus the Guardians -- and now the skipper has confirmed it with his words. Rafaela has received high marks for his defense both at shortstop and in center field, and using him at shortstop with Trevor Story (shoulder) out for the season helps address the Red Sox's logjam in the outfield. With Rafaela settling in at shortstop, Wilyer Abreu has become an everyday player in the outfield, making 10 straight starts.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Productive in Friday's win

  Rotowire Apr 20, 2024

  Rafaela went 1-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a stolen base in Friday's 8-1 win over the Pirates. The 23-year-old got the start at shortstop and committed an error in the opening frame that nearly led to a Pittsburgh run, but Rafaela quickly atoned with an RBI fielder's choice in the second inning and a solo shot off Roansy Contreras in the sixth. The long ball was his first of the season while the steal was his second, but his .167/.208/.303 slash line and 3:19 K:BB through 21 games remain disappointing. Rafaela remains a near-everyday player for the Red Sox, but he could get squeezed for playing time on the infield when Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) comes off the IL.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Getting start at shortstop

  Rotowire Apr 15, 2024

  Rafaela will start at shortstop and bat ninth in Monday's game against the Guardians. Red Sox manager Alex Cora has been adamant that the plan is to keep Rafaela in center field even after Trevor Story's season-ending shoulder injury. However, the skipper said Monday that Wilyer Abreu will become an everyday player versus righties moving forward, per Rob Bradford of WEEI.com, which would seem to point to more regular action for Rafaela at shortstop. Monday's start at shortstop is the 23-year-old's first at the position this season.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Set for middle infield reps

  Rotowire Apr 9, 2024

  Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday that Rafaela will see some playing time at second base and shortstop going forward, Jen McCaffrey of The Athleticreports. Cora recently downplayed the possibility of the 23-year-old playing shortstop in the immediate aftermath of Trevor Story's shoulder injury, but the skipper has apparently changed his mind. Rafaela should still see most of his playing time in center field, but it's possible he gains eligibility at shortstop or second base if Boston's middle infield continues to have issues with injuries and ineffectiveness.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Not expected to play shortstop

  Rotowire Apr 6, 2024

  Red Sox manager Alex Cora on Saturday downplayed the possibility of using Rafaela at shortstop following the injury to Trevor Story (shoulder), Pete Abraham of The Boston Globe reports. Rafaela is an excellent defensive shortstop, but he's also a gifted defender in center field and Boston intends to keep him there. Cora's stance would also seem to indicate that Rafaela has a good amount of leash in center field even if his bat is slow to come around. The 23-year-old entered play Saturday having gone just 5-for-25 with three RBI and one stolen base.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Heads to bench Sunday

  Rotowire Mar 31, 2024

  Rafaela is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Mariners, Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic reports. Rafaela started the first three games of the season and will receive a day off after going 4-for-12 with a double, a triple, an RBI, three runs and five strikeouts. Jarren Duran will shift to center field while Tyler O'Neill and Wilyer Abreu start in left and right field, respectively.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Enters game as infielder

  Rotowire Mar 19, 2024

  Rafaela entered Monday's spring game at second base and went 0-for-1 against the Twins. Rafaela made his first spring appearance in the infield, although he's played second base in the minors. There was some talk of him filling in at second base while Vaughn Grissom (groin) recovers, but Red Sox manager Alex Cora then announced a platoon, one involving Enmanuel Valdez and Pablo Reyes, at the keystone to start the season, per Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. That means if Rafaela makes the Opening Day roster, it will likely be as the team's primary center fielder.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Will get middle infield reps soon

  Rotowire Mar 15, 2024

  Rafaela will get some innings at second base and shortstop next week, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. Rafaela is still competing for the starting center field job, but he has plenty of infield experience and the Red Sox want to give him some reps there. Second base, in particular, looks like a spot at which there could be some playing time available early in the season with Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) sidelined.

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• Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela: Subject of organizational meeting

  Rotowire Mar 14, 2024

  Boston manager Alex Cora said Wednesday there is an organizational meeting scheduled this weekend to discuss how best to utilize Rafaela on the major league roster, Ian Browne of MLB.com reports. Rafaela's showcased elite defense in center field this spring, and seemingly his claim to a roster spot was boosted with news that Rob Refsnyder (toe) will miss a good chunk of April. At issue is Cora's original premise that Rafaela will make the club only if he wins the starting job in center, where his defense can have the greatest impact. The weekend meeting will partially focus on how best to utilize Rafaela's versatility; he's comfortable at shortstop and second base and could fill-in at the keystone while Vaughn Grissom (groin) rehabs in April. "We're going to meet over the weekend to go over a few things. Maybe we make adjustments," Cora said. "We know he can play short. We know he can play second. How we can balance the roster so we can take advantage of this spot [vacated by Refsnyder]?" The discussion will also focus on how an outfield would look if Rafaela is in center field, meaning how does the team fit Wilyer Abreu, Jarren Duran, Tyler O'Neill and Masataka Yoshida into the lineup.

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