Red Sox Player Named 2025 Fielding Bible Award Winner

One Boston Red Sox player received recognition for his standout defense.

Sports Info Solutions named Ceddanne Rafaela among its 2025 Fielding Bible Award winners on Thursday. Rafaela became the first Red Sox center fielder to win a Fielding Bible Award, joining Mookie Betts and 2024 winner Wilyer Abreu as the organization’s only outfield representatives in 20 years.

Despite a late-season shift to second base, Rafaela’s 20 Defensive Runs Saved topped Pete Crow-Armstrong and Myles Straw (15 each) for the lead among all center fielders. Statcast credited him with 19 runs prevented, MLB’s second-highest tally (regardless of position) behind Crow-Armstrong’s 22.

“Rafaela’s 27 Good Fielding Plays were the most of any center fielder,” Mark Simon of Sports Info Solutions noted in Thursday’s announcement. “Rafaela had the second-most Range Runs Saved of any center fielder and tied for the most Outfield Arm Runs Saved at the position.”

Although Rafaela was the lone Boston winner, Betts also received a 2025 Fielding Bible Award for his superb transition to shortstop with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Patrick Bailey, Matt Olson, Nico Hoerner, Ke’Bryan Hayes, Steven Kwan, Fernando Tatis Jr., Ernie Clement and Max Fried round out the winners.

Rafaela could soon receive more hardware. MLB named him an American League Gold Glove finalist at center field alongside Kyle Isbel and Julio Rodriguez. Abreu and Carlos Narváez are also finalists at right field and catcher, respectively.

Rafaela moved to center field after seeing considerable time at shortstop in 2024, and injuries prompted Boston to give him 19 starts at second base this season. Yet it’ll be hard to keep an elite center fielder away from the premium spot moving forward.