Watch: Pink Sox prospect Ceddanne Rafaela golf equipment first big-league residence run in opposition to Yankees

Pink Sox

Rafaela blasted 20 residence runs over 108 mixed video games between Portland and Worcester this season.

Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela gestures as he nears the plate on a home run against the New York Yankees during the second inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader Tuesday, Sept. 12, 2023, in Boston.
Ceddanne Rafaela opened Tuesday evening’s sport in opposition to the Yankees along with his first big-league residence run. AP Picture/Steven Senne

Pink Sox prospect Ceddanne Rafaela’s glove and flexibility out on the sector helped pave his path to the massive leagues.

However the 22-year-old middle fielder/second baseman additionally has loads of pop on the plate.

Boston’s No. 3 prospect (in keeping with MLB.com) showcased his energy throughout Tuesday evening’s sport in opposition to the Yankees, obliterating an inside fastball from New York stater Carlos Rodón for his first profession MLB residence run.

Rafaela, serving because the leadoff hitter within the second leg of Boston’s doubleheader in opposition to New York, pounced on the primary pitch delivered by Rodón. 

Rafaela’s behavior of chasing pitches out of the zone yielded bombastic outcomes on this at-bat, with the teenager turning on Rodón’s fastball and depositing it into the Inexperienced Monster for a leadoff dinger.

Rafaela’s blast clanged off the sunshine tower in left, with the pitch touring 400 ft.

Right here’s a have a look at Rafaela’s first big-league homer:

As famous by the Pink Sox’ J.P. Lengthy, the latest Pink Sox gamers to hit a leadoff homer on the age of twenty-two or youthful earlier than Rafaela had been Mookie Betts (2014-15), Ellis Burks (1987), and Reggie Smith (1967).

Rafaela’s energy surge shouldn’t come as a lot of a shock, given the manufacturing he generated within the minor leagues this season.

Alongside along with his sterling defensive play at each second base and middle subject, Rafaela batted .302 with 20 residence runs with 79 RBIs over 108 mixed video games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester this season. 

Rafaela has impressed throughout his restricted time up with Boston this month, batting .346 with three extra-base hits and two RBI over 13 video games. Plate self-discipline stands as one of many few areas for him to right, as he has struck out 12 instances over 26 at-bats. 

He’s already collected one internet gem out in middle with the Pink Sox, robbing Orioles proper fielder Anthony Santander of additional bases with a leaping snag on Sunday afternoon.