Alex Cora Explains Red Sox Star Outfielder’s Position Switch
After showing flashes of promise during his 28-game cup of coffee in 2023 and again in his 2024 rookie season, Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela has put it all together in 2025.
The 24-year-old has won over the hearts of plenty of Red Sox fans this year with his sparkling defense in centerfield and red-hot bat. That was especially the case after he crushed a two-run, walk-off home run on Friday to extend the team’s winning streak to eight games.
Amid Boston’s well-chronicled outfield logjam though, Rafaela shifted out of his customary spot in center to the infield for Saturday’s tilt against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Manager Alex Cora explained the Curacao native’s move to second base ahead of Saturday’s contest, saying that a combination of factors led to the decision.
Though he’s primarily played centerfield during his young MLB career, the infield isn’t completely foreign to Rafaela.
Entering Saturday, he’d appeared in the infield in 106 of his 267 career games. That includes 87 at shortstop, 15 at second base and four at third base.
Rafaela has patrolled centerfield in 89 of his 90 contests in 2025, however, with his lone other game on defense coming at second base.
The versatility only adds to his positive impact on the squad, as Rafaela also entered Saturday leading the Red Sox in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) at 3.9.
Rafaela’s threatening to shatter most of his 2024 offensive numbers, coming into Saturday with 13 home runs, 46 RBIs, 54 runs (team-high), 84 hits, 21 doubles and 12 stolen bases in 334 plate appearances covering 90 games. His .271/.314/.477 slash line is a massive improvement from last year’s .246/.274/.390 mark.
Rafaela’s five outfield assists in 2025 leads all American League centerfielders and his 1.8 defensive WAR is second in the junior circuit, just ahead of Boston catcher Carlos Narvaez (1.7).
Rafaela’s only appearance at second base prior to Saturday came at Yankee Stadium for one inning on June 6, so Red Sox fans got their first Fenway Park look at the youngster at the keystone.
Rafaela’s versatility, defense and clutch bat have been one of the keys to Boston’s sizzling July and he’s undoubtedly one of the team’s first half MVPs.