Boston Crimson Sox shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela will probably be misplaced defensively when Trevor Story returns, which Alex Cora revealed in all chance will probably be Saturday.
However Cora is not frightened about Rafaela discovering one other house on the diamond.
“One thing (Craig Breslow) at all times says and I informed Ceddanne the opposite day, I actually imagine that in case you inform this child there’s an island and also you throw him in the midst of the island, he’ll discover a solution to his nation,” Cora informed reporters previous to Friday’s sequence opener towards the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park. “It’ll take him a couple of days however he’ll get out of it as a result of he’s that gifted. He is that sensible.”
The Crimson Sox might transfer Rafaela again to the outfield the place he noticed chunk of time already this season with Story taking up the on a regular basis shortstop duties. However as a substitute, Cora revealed the Crimson Sox will put Rafaela at second base for the rest of the season.
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Cora mentioned the soon-to-be 24-year-old has labored out at second base not too long ago and the 2 had a dialog a few week in the past concerning the place change. Rafaela has made 4 appearances this season at second, however has but to start out a recreation on the center infield spot.
Rafaela’s play within the outfield is Gold Glove-worthy, however regardless that he can give you high-reel performs on the infield filth, his defensive output does dip. He had a minus-3 defensive runs saved over 80 video games at shortstop in comparison with 9 defensive runs saved throughout 75 video games in heart area.
However the Crimson Sox do not have a lot room on the outfield grass for Rafaela with Jarren Duran, Tyler O’Neill and Wilyer Abreu taking the beginning spots and Cora working Rob Refsnyder into the lineup towards left-handed pitchers.
And with Boston nonetheless having a gap at second base, particularly with David Hamilton on the injured listing and Vaughn Grissom unable to crack the large league roster, the Crimson Sox imagine Rafaela’s very good athleticism will translate to the proper aspect of the infield. The transfer may even maintain Rafaela’s bat — he is hitting .253 with 14 house runs, 63 RBIs and 17 stolen bases — within the lineup as nicely.
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“He’ll go to second and make performs and get used to it. We’re not frightened about it,” Cora mentioned. “It is simply one thing else in his resume and we count on him to be defensive second baseman.”
