Wilyer Abreu Reminisces On Absurd Home Run Robbery With Ceddanne Rafaela

Before the Boston Red Sox could fully turn the page to the offseason, there were a couple of players curious to see if they would earn some individual awards for their play in 2025. Two of those guys were Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela, as both earned Gold Glove Awards for their respective positions.

Early in their careers, both Abreu and Rafaela have established themselves as two of the premier defensive outfielders in the league. For Abreu, this was his second straight Gold Glove Award for his play in right field, while Rafaela earned the award after his first full season in center field.

One of the plays of the season for both guys came in May, when they combined to rob a home run in a game against the Detroit Tigers. Abreu initially caught the ball at the wall, but it slipped out back into the field of play. Fortunately, Rafaela was there to catch it, and months later, Abreu hasn’t gotten over the improbability of the play.

“That was really crazy,” Abreu said of his and Rafaela’s combined home run robbery on “Players on Players.” “The moment I saw the ball slip from my hands and that you were there to grab it, it was literally right there, and that was crazy. My reaction was too funny because it was something you don’t see every day.”

What the future holds for Boston’s outfield is unknown, as there is a logjam of talent in place heading into the offseason. What is clear, though, is that Abreu and Rafaela are one of the best defensive outfield duos in the league, and that the team benefits greatly from having them playing behind their pitching staff.

The Red Sox have a lot of work to accomplish this offseason, and after swinging four trades on Tuesday, it’s clear the front office is going to be aggressive. As a result, the Sox are a team worth keeping tabs on over the next few months.