Ceddanne Rafaela

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name = Ceddanne Rafaela

|image = Ceddanne Rafaela May 8 2024.jpg

|caption = Rafaela with the Boston Red Sox in 2024

|team = Boston Red Sox

|number = 3

|position = Center fielder / Shortstop

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2000|9|18}}

|birth_place = Willemstad, Curaçao

|bats = Right

|throws = Right

|debutleague = MLB

|debutdate = August 28

|debutyear = 2023

|debutteam = Boston Red Sox

|statleague = MLB

|statyear = June 18, 2025

|stat1label = Batting average

|stat1value = .246

|stat2label = Home runs

|stat2value = 23

|stat3label = Runs batted in

|stat3value = 106

|stat4label = Stolen bases

|stat4value = 32

|teams =

Boston Red Sox ({{mlby|2023}}–present)

}}

Ceddanne Chipper Nicasio Marte Rafaela (born September 18, 2000) is a Curaçaoan professional baseball center fielder and shortstop for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Career

Rafaela participated in the 2012 Little League World Series as a member of the Willemstad team representing the Caribbean Region.{{cite news |url=https://nesn.com/2023/02/red-sox-prospect-outlook-can-ceddanne-rafaela-exceed-insane-2022-season/ |title=Red Sox Prospect Outlook: Can Ceddanne Rafaela Exceed Insane 2022 Season? |first=Keagan |last=Stiefel |website=NESN |date=February 8, 2023 |accessdate=August 29, 2023}} He signed with the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent in July 2017, receiving a $10,000 bonus.{{Cite web |last=Speier |first=Alex |date=April 28, 2022 |title=Red Sox' most improbable prospect is power-hitting 5-8 utilityman Ceddanne Rafaela |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/04/28/sports/red-sox-most-improbable-prospect-is-power-hitting-5-8-utilityman-ceddanne-rafaela/ |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=Boston Globe}}{{Cite web |last=Browne |first=Ian |date=April 11, 2024 |title=Breaking down Rafaela's eight-year extension |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ceddanne-rafaela-contract-extension-breakdown |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=MLB.com}} Rafaela made his professional debut in 2018 with the Dominican Summer League Red Sox. In 2019, he played for the Gulf Coast Red Sox, batting .248/.330/.425, and Lowell Spinners, batting .182/.167/.182.

Rafaela did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |last=Adler |first=David |date=June 30, 2020 |title=2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2020-minor-league-baseball-season-canceled |access-date=April 9, 2024 |website=MLB.com}} In 2021, he played for the Salem Red Sox, batting .251/.305/.424.{{Cite web |last=Speier |first=Alex |date=April 16, 2022 |title=Ceddanne Rafaela Makes More Hard Contact For Red Sox |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/ceddanne-rafaela-makes-more-hard-contact-for-red-sox/ |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=Baseball America}} He started 2022 with the Greenville Drive before being promoted to the Portland Sea Dogs.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Christopher |date=April 20, 2022 |title=Boston Red Sox's other Raffy: Ceddanne Rafaela is 76 pounds lighter than Rafael Devers but has 5 homers, 5 doubles in 10 games |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2022/04/boston-red-soxs-other-raffy-ceddanne-rafaela-is-76-pounds-lighter-than-rafael-devers-but-has-5-homers-5-doubles-in-10-games.html |access-date=July 30, 2024 |website=MassLive.com}}{{cite web |last=Neville |first=Scott |date=June 7, 2022 |title=Surging Red Sox Prospect Ceddanne Rafaela to Make Double-A Debut |url=https://nesn.com/2022/06/surging-red-sox-prospect-ceddanne-rafaela-to-make-double-a-debut/}} Rafaela was selected to the 2022 All-Star Futures Game.{{cite news |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/2022-futures-game-rosters |title=Here are the 2022 Futures Game rosters |first=Jonathan |last=Mayo |website=MLB.com |date=July 14, 2022 |accessdate=July 16, 2022}} For the season, Rafaela was named minor-league Defensive Player of the Year by the Red Sox.{{cite news |last=Woodward |first=Will |date=September 27, 2022 |title=Minor Notes: Red Sox announce their Players of the Year & Portland's playoff run ends |url=http://news.soxprospects.com/2022/09/minor-notes-red-sox-announce-their.html |accessdate=October 7, 2022 |website=SoxProspects.com}} On November 15, Rafaela was added to Boston's 40-man roster.{{Cite web |last=Leger |first=Justin |date=2022-11-16 |title=Red Sox add five to 40-man roster ahead of Rule 5 Draft |url=https://www.nbcsportsboston.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/red-sox-add-five-to-40-man-roster-ahead-of-rule-5-draft/273684/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=NBC Sports Boston}}

In early 2023, Rafaela was ranked the 71st best prospect by Baseball America list and the 53rd best prospect by Fangraphs.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/21/sports/this-is-how-we-ranked-30-major-league-managers/ |title=Sunday Baseball Notes |first=Peter |last=Abraham |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=January 21, 2023 |accessdate=January 22, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Longenhagen |first=Eric |last2=Taruskin |first2=Tess |date=February 22, 2023 |title=2023 Top 100 Prospects |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2023-top-100-prospects/ |access-date=September 17, 2024 |website=FanGraphs}} Before the season, the Red Sox sent Rafaela back to Double-A Portland so he could work on his hitting.{{Cite web |last=Starr |first=Gabrielle |date=2023-03-28 |title=Red Sox top prospect Ceddanne Rafaela back in Double-A to start season |url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2023/03/28/red-sox-top-prospect-ceddanne-rafaela-double-a-portland-jarren-duran-triple-a-worcester/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=Boston Herald |language=en-US}} On May 13, Rafaela set a Sea Dogs record after stealing six bases in a game against the Somerset Patriots; he was initially credited with seven steals but had one taken away due to defensive indifference.{{Cite web |last=Terranova |first=Rob |date=May 14, 2023 |title=Red Sox prospect steals SIX bases in one game |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ceddanne-rafaela-steals-six-bases-in-a-single-game-for-double-a-portland |access-date=May 25, 2023 |website=MLB.com}} Rafaela was promoted to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox on June 28.{{cite news |url=https://www.telegram.com/story/sports/mlb/woosox/2023/07/06/ceddanne-rafaela-red-sox-promotion-triple-a-worcester/70382284007/ |title=Meet one of the top Red Sox prospects, who recently earned a promotion to Triple-A Worcester |first=Tommy |last=Cassell |website=Telegram & Gazette |location=Worcester, Massachusetts |date=August 28, 2023 |accessdate=August 28, 2023}} On August 28, he was added to Boston's major-league roster.{{cite press release |url=https://www.mlb.com/press-release/press-release-red-sox-announce-roster-moves-08-28-23 |title=Red Sox Announce Roster Moves |website=MLB.com |publisher=Boston Red Sox |date=August 28, 2023 |accessdate=August 28, 2023}} He made his MLB debut that evening, hitting a single in his first at bat.{{cite web |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/jose-urquidy-in-play-to-ceddanne-rafaela |title=Ceddanne Rafaela's first hit |website=MLB.com |date=August 28, 2023 |accessdate=August 28, 2023}} On September 12, in the second game of the doubleheader against the New York Yankees, Rafaela hit his first major-league home run, estimated at 400 feet, off Carlos Rodón.{{Cite web |last=Browne |first=Ian |date=September 13, 2023 |title=Rafaela shows off light-tower power with 1st big league homer |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ceddanne-rafaela-hits-first-major-league-homer |access-date=September 13, 2023 |website=mlb.com}} In September, Rafaela was recognized as the Red Sox' minor-league baserunner of the year for 2023.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/09/26/sports/minor-league-honors-offer-red-sox-chance-reflect-their-developing-homegrown-pitching-pipeline/ |title=Minor league honors offer Red Sox chance to reflect on their developing homegrown pitching pipeline |first=Alex |last=Speier |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=September 26, 2023 |accessdate=September 27, 2023}} In 2023 with the Red Sox, he had a slash line of .241/.281/.386.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=rafael001ced|title=Ceddanne Rafaela Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics|website=Baseball-Reference.com}}

Rafaela began 2024 with Boston, hitting a triple on Opening Day.{{cite news |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/03/23/sports/red-sox-ceddanne-rafaela/ |title=Red Sox name Ceddanne Rafaela to Opening Day roster |first=Alex |last=Speier |website=The Boston Globe |url-access=limited |date=March 23, 2024 |accessdate=March 23, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Christopher |date=2024-03-29 |title=Red Sox rookie’s parents traveled to Seattle for opener; ‘Dream come true’ |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2024/03/red-sox-rookies-parents-traveled-to-seattle-for-opener-dream-come-true.html |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=masslive}} On April 8, he signed an eight-year, $50 million contract extension with the Red Sox, lasting through the 2031 season with a team option for 2032.{{Cite web |last=Browne |first=Ian |date=April 11, 2024 |title=Rookie Rafaela agrees to 8-year extension with Red Sox |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ceddanne-rafaela-contract-extension |access-date=April 8, 2024 |website=MLB.com}}{{Cite web |last= |title=Ceddanne Rafaela {{!}} MLB Contracts & Salaries |url=https://www.spotrac.com/mlb/player/_/id/80131/ceddanne-rafaela |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=Spotrac}} On July 5, Rafaela hit a two-run home run in the top of the tenth inning to help secure a 5–3 win for the Red Sox against the Yankees in his first game at Yankee Stadium.{{Cite web |date=July 6, 2024 |title=Red Sox stun Yankees 5-3 on 2-run homers by Yoshida in the 9th and Rafaela in the 10th |url=https://www.espn.com/mlb/recap/_/gameId/401569789 |access-date=2025-06-18 |website=ESPN.com|agency=Associated Press}}

In 2024, he batted .246/.274/.390 with 15 home runs and 75 RBIs. He walked in 2.6% of plate appearances, the lowest percentage in the majors. He struck out in 26.4 percent of trips to the plate, 21st highest.[https://www.fangraphs.com/leaders/major-league?pos=all&stats=bat&lg=al%2Cnl&qual=y&type=8&season=2024&month=0&season1=2024&ind=0&sortcol=8&sortdir=asc "2024 Major League Leaders,"] Fangraphs.

Rafaela started his second straight Opening Day in center field for Boston.{{Cite web |last=London |first=Adam |date=2025-03-27 |title=Red Sox Opening Day Lineup: Garrett Crochet, Kristian Campbell Start |url=https://nesn.com/2025/03/red-sox-opening-day-lineup-garrett-crochet-kristian-campbell-start/ |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=NESN}} He won the MLB Play of the Week for a catch in deep center field off the bat of Josh Jung on May 8.{{Cite web |title=Ceddanne Rafaela wins Play of the Week {{!}} 05/12/2025 |url=https://www.mlb.com/video/ceddanne-rafaela-wins-play-of-the-week |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} On June 4, Rafaela hit the shortest home run by a Red Sox player since Statcast started tracking them in 2015, a walk-off 308-foot home run against the Los Angeles Angels in an 11–9 victory. That home run, which landed near the Pesky Pole at Fenway Park, was recorded as the shortest walk-off homer by any MLB player in the Statcast era.{{Cite web |title=At just 308 feet, behold the shortest walk-off HR on record |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ceddanne-rafaela-hits-walk-off-homer-in-win-over-angels |date=June 4, 2025 |access-date=June 4, 2025 |last=Browne |first=Ian |website=MLB.com}}

Personal life

Rafaela's mother gave him his middle name, "Chipper", because she was a fan of Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves. Both his parents, like Jones, played third base, his mother on competitive softball teams and his father in semi-pro baseball. He has a older brother and is married.{{Cite web |last=Browne |first=Ian |date=October 7, 2024 |title=For Rafaela, this game is a family affair |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/ceddanne-rafaela-honoring-parents-on-players-weekend |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=MLB.com |language=en}}{{cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-red-sox/2023/08/28/ceddanne-rafaela-red-sox-prospect-portland-worcester-mookie-betts/ |title=5 things to know about Red Sox prospect Ceddanne Rafaela after his call-up to MLB |first=Conor |last=Ryan |website=Boston.com |date=August 28, 2023 |accessdate=August 28, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Logan |first=Daniel |date=2023-08-23 |title=From Willemstad to Worcester, Ceddanne Rafaela Stars Wherever He Goes |url=https://www.sikids.com/kid-reporter/from-willemstad-to-worcester-ceddanne-rafaela-stars-wherever-he-goes |access-date=2025-06-12 |website=SI Kids |language=en-US}} His wife and parents flew to Seattle to watch him play on Opening Day in 2024.

Rafaela speaks English, Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamento.{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Christopher |date=July 6, 2022 |title=Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela has quick hands, bat speed like Mookie Betts, speaks 4 languages like Xander Bogaerts |url=https://www.masslive.com/redsox/2022/07/boston-red-soxs-ceddanne-rafaela-has-quick-hands-bat-speed-like-mookie-betts-speaks-4-languages-like-xander-bogaerts.html |access-date=September 17, 2024 |website=masslive |language=en}}