FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Saturday’s Spring Breakout contest at JetBlue Park between the Braves and the Red Sox was billed as a game for top prospects to play with and against each other.
So why was Ceddanne Rafaela, who has a shot at starting in center field for the Red Sox on Opening Day, out there?
With a strong two-way performance in this showcase event against Braves prospects, Rafaela certainly had the look of a player who could soon graduate from prospect to MLB regular in Boston’s 7-2 victory.
Already trending upward in his quest to make the team, Rafaela strengthened his case. The 23-year-old from Curacao hammered a towering three-run homer to left-center field in the bottom of the third inning.
In the top of the second, Rafaela showed off every bit of his athleticism in center, ranging far to his right to make a sweet catch on the run. From an off-balanced angle, he fired to second base to double off Isaiah Drake. Rafaela looked more like a shortstop on the throw, which he had to make from a contorted angle.
While Rafaela has no control over what decision the Red Sox make toward the end of camp, he thinks he’s put himself in the best position possible to be in Seattle on March 28.
“The closer to the [decision], the more confident I am,” Rafaela said. “The work I’ve put in all spring, it shows up so I don’t have to put any pressure on myself. Personally, I can say whatever I want, but it’s their decision. I can’t really control that. I can only control what I can control.”
For obvious reasons, Rafaela hoped that Saturday marked the final prospect showcase game he’ll appear in. But he enjoyed the experience as the veteran of the squad.
Was it strange for Rafaela to play in a game exclusively made up of Minor Leaguers when he’s spent his entire Spring Training in big league camp?
“No, it wasn’t strange,” Rafaela said. “Obviously, to be back on the field with some of the boys I played with, it’s always fun.”
Marcelo Mayer, the No. 1 prospect for the Red Sox, enjoyed the opportunity to watch Rafaela put on a show.
“He’s a beast,” credited Mayer. “A special player hitting and fielding. He showed us today: hit a bomb and then made a running throw. Not many players do that in center field or anywhere on the diamond.”
Here were some other moments that stood out from Saturday’s contest.
Two first-rounders wield hot bats
Aside from Rafaela, the standouts on offense were Kyle Teel and Nick Yorke.
Teel, who has the potential roar through the farm system after being drafted out of Virginia in the first round of the 2023 Draft, belted a single down the left-field line in his first at-bat and then a double down the line in right in his second.
The Red Sox think Teel, their No. 3 prospect per MLB Pipeline, has a chance to be the best two-way catcher the club has had since Jason Varitek.
“It was a fun day. It’s always fun winning games,” said Teel. “It was great. I’m just trying to put a good swing on the ball every time and whatever happens happens. And that's all I try and do.”
Yorke was Boston’s first-round Draft selection in 2020 as a high schooler. Like Teel, he used both sides of the field, hitting an opposite-field RBI single in his first at-bat and a rally-starting double off the replica Green Monster in his second. Yorke, the organization's No. 8 prospect, hopes to be the team’s second baseman of the future.
It was an enjoyable day to be a Red Sox prospect.
“I'm pumped,” Teel said. “We have a ton of amazing prospects. A ton of talent here and the culture in our farm system and Minor Leagues and all the way up to the Major Leagues. It's really special and I'm really grateful to be a part of it.”
Mayer makes nice play
In a play that certainly hasn’t been practiced in Spring Training drills at Fenway South, a grounder by Luis Guanipa deflected off the glove of third baseman Chase Meidroth and into the glove of Mayer. The shortstop made a cannon throw to first to get Guanipa, drawing some buzz from the crowd.
“That was funny. We’ve been practicing that play for like a month. It finally worked out for us,” quipped Mayer. “Nah, just right place, right time.”
While Mayer had a tough day at the plate (0-for-4, three strikeouts), he loved being part of the festivities.
“It was a blast,” Mayer said. “It’s not every day you get to share the field with all the organizational prospects. Usually, we’re all scattered throughout the system. To be able to share the field at the same time was pretty special.”