Red Sox’s Ceddanne Rafaela Gets New Lineup Slot, Position After Walk-Off Win

Saturday’s lineup card contains two significant changes for Ceddanne Rafaela.

The Boston Red Sox center fielder stayed sizzling hot when hitting a walk-off home run in Friday’s 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays. Alex Cora rewarded Rafaela with a seismic climb up the batting order.

Rafaela, Boston’s frequent No. 9 hitter, is batting second in Saturday’s game against the Rays. It’s the first time the 24-year-old will bat higher than sixth all season.

That’s not the only alteration. Rafaela is also making his first start at second base in 2025.

While he doesn’t draw as many walks as the typical table-setter, Rafaela still warranted a bump up the batting order. He’s 14-for-34 with six doubles and four home runs in July after registering a .870 OPS in June.

Excluding the traded Rafael Devers, only part-time player Romy Gonzalez has a higher weighted on-base average than Rafaela’s .375 since May 1.

The Red Sox have now used a different starting second baseman in each of the last four games. David Hamilton started on Wednesday before getting optioned for a returning Alex Bregman. Gonzalez sits against another right-handed pitcher after playing Thursday, and Marcelo Mayer made his first career start at the keystone position on Friday night.

Mayer moves back to third base on Saturday with Alex Bregman sitting a day after returning from the injured list. Cora previously said he planned to play Bregman in two games before the break.

Rafaela is playing Gold Glove-caliber defense in center field, so he won’t be the permanent solution to the revolving door at second. Cora said, per the Boston Herald’s Gabrielle Starr, that Rafaela will move to the infield no more than once per week.

Saturday’s game between the Red Sox and Rays starts at 4:10 p.m. ET.