PT TOMORROW: AL East — 2024 may bring bigger roles for Rafaela, others

Boston Red Sox

As the season winds down, the question seems to be becoming not if Ceddanne Rafaela (OF, BOS) will start the 2024 with the Red Sox but where he will play.

As manager Alex Cora had promised, Rafaela has now seen some time at second base to go along with shortstop and outfield as he begins to get a bit of on-the-job training to become part of the team’s young core.

In his first 56 plate appearances in Boston, Rafaela has struck out in approximately one-third of them (19 K), and the speed he displayed between Double-A and Triple-A (37 SB in 107 games) has not yet manifested itself, which his modest success rate at AAA-Worcester (6-for-11) may have portended. Rafaela’s batting average is also being propped up to some degree...

Almost!

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