Most outfielders wouldn’t have caught the ball Wenceel Pérez laced within the sixth inning Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.
However Ceddanne Rafaela isn’t most outfielders.
With the Pink Sox main the Tigers by two, Pérez tagged a Brennan Bernardino sinker that seemed to be ticketed for the right-center discipline hole. However Rafaela coated a ton of floor, absolutely prolonged to make a diving catch and doubled up the runner at second to finish the body.
It marked yet one more net gem for the 25-year-old, a former infield prospect who now’s excelling on the grass. In actual fact, Boston supervisor Alex Cora believes Rafaela already is correct up there with the sport’s greatest defensive outfielders.
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“He’s elite in middle,” Cora instructed reporters after the Pink Sox’s 6-3 win, per MassLive.
Cora added: “Now that all the things has settled down and Hammy (David Hamilton) has been capable of decelerate the sport, he (Rafaela) is elite. He’s a game-changer. That’s the explanation he made the workforce. It wasn’t the offense. It was his protection, one thing we have been missing final 12 months. And this 12 months, it’s completely different. It’s quite a bit completely different.”
Whereas Cora didn’t emphasize Rafaela’s offense, the gifted rookie has been making an affect along with his bat as nicely. He logged 9 hits in his final eight video games — together with a pair of house runs Friday evening — and at the moment leads Boston in RBIs (33).
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Rafaela will attempt to assist the Pink Sox earn a collection win Sunday after they host the Tigers for the finale of their three-game set. NESN’s full protection begins at 12:30 p.m. ET.
