RADIO
Ceddanne Rafaela Goes Deep Again on Sunday
Boston Red Sox infielder/outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela continued his July power surge in a 4-1 win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Sunday. Rafaela finished 1-for-3 with a two-run shot off Rays starter Ryan Pepiot, giving him five dingers in 11 games this month. The 24-year-old has gone 16-for-41 (.390) with six doubles, 15 RBI, and 10 runs in July, and his hot hitting goes back several weeks. Rafaela owned an uninspiring .647 OPS entering June, but that number has skyrocketed by 150 points in the past month and a half. He'll head into the second part of the season slashing .271/.314/.483 with 14 homers, 48 RBI, 55 runs, 13 steals, and an above-average 19.4% strikeout rate in 341 plate appearances. He's already just one HR away from tying the career-high 15 he hit last year in 152 games. With Rafaela ranking in the top 20% of hitters in xSLG and barrel rate, his spike in power looks legitimate.
Source: ESPN
Source: ESPN
