Ceddanne Rafaela

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Ceddanne Rafaela
Rafaela with the Boston Red Sox in 2024
Boston Red Sox – No. 3
Center fielder / Shortstop
Born: (2000-09-18) September 18, 2000 (age 25)
Willemstad, Curaçao
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
August 28, 2023, for the Boston Red Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2025 season)
Batting average.247
Home runs33
Runs batted in143
Stolen bases42
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

Ceddanne Chipper Nicasio Marte Rafaela (born September 18, 2000) is a Curaçaoan professional baseball center fielder and shortstop for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Born in Curaçao, Rafaela signed with the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent in July 2017, and made his professional debut in 2018 with the Dominican Summer League Red Sox. He spent the next several years rising through the Red Sox' farm system, although he did not play in 2020 with the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rafaela was selected to the All-Star Futures Game in 2022 before making his major league debut on August 28, 2023 against the Houston Astros. After making Boston's 2024 opening day roster, Rafaela signed an eight-year, $50 million contract extension on April 8, lasting through the 2031 season with a team option for 2032.

In 2025, Rafaela hit a home run at Fenway Park on June 4 against the Los Angeles Angels which was recorded as the shortest walk-off home run by any MLB player since Statcast began tracking in 2015. Facing the Detroit Tigers on September 26, Rafaela's walk-off triple was responsible for securing the Red Sox' first postseason berth since 2021, and at the end of the season, he was awarded the MLB-wide Fielding Bible Award for center field.

Early life

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Ceddanne Chipper Nicasio Marte Rafaela was born on September 18, 2000, in Willemstad, Curaçao, to Rechilene and Cezan Rafaela. His mother gave him the middle name "Chipper" because she was a fan of Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves. Like Jones, both of Rafaela's parents played third base; his mother on competitive softball teams and his father in semi-professional baseball.[1] He also has an older brother, Cezan, who played baseball at North Central Missouri College, and a younger sister.[2]

Growing up in Willemstad, Rafaela played in the Pariba Little League, and represented the Caribbean region with his team in the 2012 Little League World Series.[3]

Professional career

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Minor leagues (2017–23)

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On July 2, 2017, Rafaela signed with the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent, receiving a $10,000 signing bonus.[4] He made his professional debut with the Dominican Summer League Red Sox in 2018, batting .271 with 31 runs scored, 28 runs batted in (RBIs), and 55 hits in 54 games and 225 plate appearances. Rafaela played 44 of those games at third base, making 6 errors and posting a fielding percentage of .957,[5] and was named to the DSL Mid-Season All-Star team.[6] The following year, Rafaela played 41 games for the Rookie-level Gulf Coast Red Sox, where he batted .248 with 17 RBI from 38 hits, including 6 home runs. He also played 3 games with the Lowell Spinners of the Class A Short Season New York-Pennsylvania League, recording two hits and an RBI in 12 plate appearances.[5]

Rafaela was unable to play in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Minor League Baseball season as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.[7] The following year, he was promoted to the Single-A Salem Red Sox of the Low-A East league, where he batted .251 with 9 triples, 23 stolen bases, and 53 RBIs on 99 hits in 102 games played and 432 plate appearances.[5] Defensively, Rafaela spent the majority of his season in the outfield for the first time, including 52 games as center fielder with .991 fielding percentage and only one error in the position, and was named the Red Sox' Minor League Defensive Player of the Year for 2021.[8]

He began 2022 with the High-A Greenville Drive, batting .330 with 9 home runs and 65 hits in 45 games.[5] On April 17, he was recognized as the South Atlantic League's Player of the Week, and later as the league's Hitter of the Month for April.[9] Facing the Hickory Crawdads on May 17, Rafaela hit for a natural cycle, the first in Greenville's history.[10] He was promoted to the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs in June,[11] and in July, Rafaela was selected to represent the American League (AL) in the 2022 All-Star Futures Game to be played at Dodger Stadium, which was won by the AL Futures team 6–4.[12] At the end of the season, Rafaela had played 71 games for Portland and hit .278 with 12 home runs and 79 hits, and ranked 4th in the Eastern League with 6 triples. Between Greenville and Portland, Rafaela played the entire season (bar one game) as either shortstop or center fielder, and recorded a .991 fielding percentage.[5] He was again recognized as the Red Sox' Minor League Defensive Player of the Year, marking the first time a player won the award in consecutive years since Jacoby Ellsbury in 2006 and 2007. [13] He was also named as Boston's Minor League Player of the Year,[14] and on November 15, Rafaela was added to Boston's 40-man roster ahead of the Rule 5 draft.[15]

Rafaela played for Criollos de Caguas in the 2022–23 Puerto Rican Winter League,[8] batting .262 in 19 games played and 76 plate appearances.[5]

In early 2023, Baseball America ranked Rafaela the 71st best minor league prospect,[16] and he was placed 49th by FanGraphs.[17] He was sent down to Double-A Portland to work on his hitting prior to the start of the minor league season,[18] and on May 13 set a franchise record after stealing base 6 times in one game while facing the Somerset Patriots.[19] After hitting .294 and recording 30 stolen bases with an outfield fielding percentage of .974,[5] Rafaela was promoted on June 28 to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox of the International League.[20] There, he recorded 14 home runs and a .312 batting average, and 1.000 fielding percentage across all positions played in 48 games,[5] before being added to the Boston Red Sox' major league roster on August 28.[21]

Boston Red Sox (2023–present)

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Rafaela made his MLB debut against the Houston Astros on August 28 at Fenway Park, hitting a single in his first major league at bat.[22] On September 12 he hit his first major league home run off Carlos Rodón, in the second game of a double-header against the New York Yankees at Fenway.[23] Rafaela recorded a .241/.281/.286 slash line with the Red Sox in 28 games played by the end of the regular season, and was honored as Boston's Minor League Baserunner of the Year.[24]

Rafaela began his 2024 season by hitting a triple in his first Opening Day roster start.[25][26] On April 8, he signed an eight-year contract extension with the Red Sox for $50 million, lasting through to the 2031 season with a team option for 2032.[27] In his first game at Yankee Stadium on July 5, Rafaela hit a two-run home run at the top of the tenth inning to lift Boston to a 5–3 victory over the New York Yankees.[28] By the end of the season, he had a .246 batting average, with 15 home runs and 75 RBIs, and a .984 fielding percentage in the outfield. He also turned 2 double plays in the season, ranking 1st of all center fielders and 3rd of all outfielders in the American League.[29]

2025

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In 2025, he started in center field in his second consecutive Opening Day appearance, recording his first RBI of the season by scoring Wilyer Abreu on a force out.[30] On May 8, Rafaela won the MLB Play of the Week award for a catch against the wall of Fenway's center field off the bat of Josh Jung.[31] Hitting a walk-off home run at Fenway on June 4 against the Los Angeles Angels, Rafaela hit the shortest home run by a Red Sox player since Statcast tracking began in 2015, and the shortest recorded walk-off home run of any MLB player in the Statcast era, traveling just 308 feet to land near the Pesky Pole.[32]

On July 11, Rafaela hit his second walk-off home run of the season, facing the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway, sending the pitch from Pete Fairbanks over the Green Monster to lead the Red Sox to their 8th consecutive win of the season—their longest win record of the season to date,[33][34] and the longest win record of the franchise since their 8-game win streak from April 29–May 6, 2023. He was awarded the MLB Play of the Week for a second time on September 7, for robbing Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll of a home run in right-center field at Chase Field the day before.[35][36] Later that month, on September 26, Rafaela hit a walk-off triple against the Detroit Tigers to secure a 4–3 victory and Boston's first postseason berth since 2021.[37][38]

Rafaela ended the 2025 season with a .249 batting average, recording 16 home runs and 63 RBIs. He also recorded a .985 fielding percentage playing center field in 141 games, including an American League-best 8 assists, and a .958 fielding percentage in 24 games played at second base.[29] On October 16, he was named as a finalist for the 2025 Gold Glove Award at center field for the American League,[39] and won the center fielder Fielding Bible Award on October 23.[40]

International career

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Rafaela has committed to play in the 2026 World Baseball Classic for the Netherlands national baseball team.[41]

Personal life

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Rafaela speaks English, Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamento. Rafaela grew up a fan of the Boston Red Sox; his favourite hitter was Manny Ramirez, and his favourite defender was Dustin Pedroia.[42] His wife is from Puerto Rico, which influenced his decision to play in the 2022–23 Puerto Rican Winter League.[43] They have three children.[44][45]

References

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  1. ^ Browne, Ian (October 7, 2024). "For Rafaela, this game is a family affair". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2025. Retrieved June 12, 2025.
  2. ^ Smith, Christopher (July 12, 2025). "Red Sox hero Ceddanne Rafaela gives biggest defender 'goosebumps' with walkoff HR". MassLive.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  3. ^ Logan, Daniel (August 23, 2023). "From Willemstad to Worcester, Ceddanne Rafaela Stars Wherever He Goes". SI Kids.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2025. Retrieved October 23, 2025.
  4. ^ Speier, Alex (April 28, 2022). "Red Sox' most improbable prospect is power-hitting 5-8 utilityman Ceddanne Rafaela". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 23, 2025. Retrieved July 30, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h "Ceddanne Rafaela Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  6. ^ "Ceddanne Rafaela : SoxProspects.com". SoxProspects. Archived from the original on October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  7. ^ Adler, David (June 30, 2020). "2020 Minor League Baseball season cancelled". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2025. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
  8. ^ a b Gillberto, Gerard (February 7, 2023). "The Road to The Show™: Ceddanne Rafaela". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  9. ^ "Rafaela Named Hitter of the Month". MiLB.com. May 12, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  10. ^ Trezza, Joe (May 18, 2022). "Rafaela hits for first cycle in Drive history, naturally". MiLB.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  11. ^ Neville, Scott (June 7, 2022). "Surging Red Sox Prospect Ceddanne Rafaela to Make Double-A Debut". NESN. Archived from the original on October 27, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  12. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (July 14, 2022). "Here are the 2022 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Archived from the original on August 16, 2025. Retrieved October 26, 2025.
  13. ^ "Red Sox Minor League Players of the Year". SoxProspects. Archived from the original on December 5, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  14. ^ "Red Sox announce winners of 2022 Minor League Awards". MLB.com. September 27, 2022. Archived from the original on December 13, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  15. ^ Vita, Jack (November 15, 2022). "Boston Red Sox Set 40-Man Roster, Protect Minor League Players from Rule 5 Draft". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  16. ^ Dudek, Greg (January 18, 2023). "Five Red Sox Prospects Land On Baseball America's Top 100 List". NESN. Archived from the original on January 25, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  17. ^ Longenhagen, Eric; Taruskin, Tess (February 22, 2023). "2023 Top 100 Prospects". FanGraphs. Archived from the original on July 4, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  18. ^ Starr, Gabrielle (March 28, 2023). "Red Sox top prospect Ceddanne Rafaela back in Double-A to start season". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on June 27, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  19. ^ Terranova, Rob (May 14, 2023). "Red Sox prospect steals SIX bases in one game". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  20. ^ Cassell, Tommy (July 6, 2023). "Meet one of the top Red Sox prospects, who recently earned a promotion to Triple-A Worcester". Telegram & Gazette. Archived from the original on October 27, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  21. ^ McCaffrey, Jen; Law, Keith (August 29, 2023). "Red Sox promote highly touted prospect Ceddanne Rafaela". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 5, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  22. ^ "Ceddanne Rafaela's first hit". MLB.com. August 28, 2023. Archived from the original on January 24, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  23. ^ Browne, Ian (September 13, 2023). "Rafaela shows off light-tower power with 1st big league homer". MLB.com. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  24. ^ Speier, Alex (September 26, 2023). "Minor league honors offer Red Sox chance to reflect on their developing homegrown pitching pipeline". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on February 23, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  25. ^ Speier, Alex (March 23, 2024). "Red Sox name Ceddanne Rafaela to Opening Day roster". Boston Globe. Archived from the original on October 11, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  26. ^ Smith, Christopher (March 29, 2024). "Red Sox rookie's parents traveled to Seattle for opener; 'Dream come true'". MassLive. Archived from the original on June 12, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  27. ^ Browne, Ian (April 11, 2024). "Rookie Rafaela agrees to 8-year extension with Red Sox". MLB. Archived from the original on September 9, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  28. ^ "Red Sox stun Yankees 5-3 on 2-run homers by Yoshida in the 9th and Rafaela in the 10th". Associated Press. July 5, 2024. Archived from the original on July 6, 2024. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  29. ^ a b "Ceddanne Rafaela Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball Reference. Archived from the original on October 12, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  30. ^ London, Adam (March 27, 2025). "Red Sox Opening Day Lineup: Garrett Crochet, Kristian Campbell Start". NESN. Archived from the original on June 12, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  31. ^ "Ceddanne Rafaela wins Play of the Week". MLB.com. May 12, 2025. Archived from the original on September 21, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  32. ^ Browne, Ian (June 4, 2025). "At just 308 feet, behold the shortest walk-off HR on record". MLB.com. Archived from the original on June 13, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  33. ^ Starr, Gabrielle (July 11, 2025). "Ceddanne Rafaela's walk-off Monster homer gives Red Sox 8th win in a row". Boston Herald. Archived from the original on July 16, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  34. ^ Burkhardt, Molly (July 12, 2025). "Rafaela caps Boston's 8th straight win with walk-off HR". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 27, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  35. ^ Browne, Ian (September 7, 2025). "Rafaela takes a homer away on this RIDICULOUS catch". MLB.com. Archived from the original on September 9, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  36. ^ "Ceddanne Rafaela's HR robbery wins Play of the Week". MLB.com. September 8, 2025. Archived from the original on October 27, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  37. ^ McDaniel, Mike (September 26, 2025). "Ceddanne Rafaela's Walk-Off Triple Sends Red Sox to Playoffs". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on September 27, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  38. ^ Browne, Ian (September 27, 2025). "Rafaela's walk-off triple launches Red Sox into postseason". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 1, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  39. ^ Murphy, Brian; Randhawa, Manny; DeRosa, Theo (October 16, 2025). "Here are all the Gold Glove Award finalists". MLB.com. Retrieved October 25, 2025.
  40. ^ Adler, David (October 27, 2025). "Winners of the 2025 Fielding Bible Awards announced". MLB.com. Archived from the original on October 27, 2025. Retrieved October 27, 2025.
  41. ^ Stiefel, Keagan (July 13, 2025). "Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela To Participate In 2026 WBC". NESN. Archived from the original on October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  42. ^ Smith, Christopher (July 6, 2022). "Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela has quick hands, bat speed like Mookie Betts, speaks 4 languages like Xander Bogaerts". MassLive.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  43. ^ Jennings, Chad (November 3, 2022). "Red Sox prospect Ceddanne Rafaela heads to Puerto Rico to put finishing touches on breakout season". The Athletic. Archived from the original on October 24, 2025. Retrieved October 24, 2025.
  44. ^ Ceddanne Rafaela [@cedanner]; (October 18, 2024). "Finding the magic in little things ✨💎". Retrieved October 29, 2025 – via Instagram.
  45. ^ Elianne Rafaela [@eli_222_chang]; (September 17, 2025). "Glowing, growing, and counting down the days to meet you. ✨💕". Retrieved October 29, 2025 – via Instagram.
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