10 months agoBoston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela made his big-league debut last year and comes to spring training in 2024 competing for the center field job with Jarren Duran. The 23-year-old from Curacao went 20-for-83 (.241) with two home runs, five RBI and three stolen bases in his first 28 big-league games last year. He's not guaranteed to make the Opening Day roster unless he wins the center field job, though, and his glove is certainly ahead of his bat at this stage. Rafaela is an exceptional athlete, but more likely than not, he'll open 2024 at Triple-A Worcester, where he hit .312 (62-for-199) with 14 homers, 42 RBI and six steals in 48 games in 2023. MLB Pipeline's No. 76 overall prospect had a total of 20 homers and 36 steals in 108 games in the minors a year ago, demonstrating the kind of raw tools he possesses. On the downside, the 5-foot-9 outfielder chased too much at the plate and struck out over a third of the time in his small MLB sample size in 2023. The youngster could eventually become an above-average hitter at the big-league level if he's able to refine his hit tool, but for 2024, his glove and his speed will be his most attractive traits in AL-only leagues. Rafaela is projected by ATC to hit .257/.298/.408 with five homers, 25 RBI and eight stolen bases in just 218 plate appearances.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBaller