‘He's all about winning': Ceddanne Rafaela showcases defensive prowess for Red Sox
In Mayer's absence, Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran have stepped up, sliding out of their natural positions this season, to fill holes so the team isn't derailed by another tough injury.
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'I think that's super beneficial for us to have that versatility,' outfielder coach Kyle Hudson said. 'Being able to do that and interchange helps us out.'
At the time of his right wrist injury, Mayer had been playing second base, but in his absence, Rafaela has seen increased playing time at second, moving from center field where he's tied for third in the majors among outfielders with 16 defensive runs saved.
'It sucks because he's the best defensive center fielder in the big leagues, but right now we need him to play second more than we actually wanted to,' manager Alex Cora said. 'He's willing to do it. He's all about winning.'
It's been a jigsaw puzzle of a roster this season for Cora, but it's been working, as the team remains squarely in contention for a postseason spot with at least one player out of his natural position on a near-nightly basis.
Rafaela came up as an infielder and transitioned to the outfield, where he's put on a Gold Glove-caliber display this season. Though his infield instincts are still there, it's taken a few games to knock off the rust.
Rafaela had started three games at second before Mayer's injury, all in early July, as a way to get his bat into the lineup amid a white-hot streak at the plate. But since Mayer's injury, he's seen more frequent time there.
'The more I play, the more comfortable I get,' Rafaela said. 'At first, it wasn't easy because this spring I didn't touch an infield glove until I played second halfway through the year. But the more games I'm starting to get this year at second under my belt, it's helping build my confidence.'
The action is naturally much quicker in the infield with Rafaela on top of the ball, and though it would seem like a major challenge to move between center and second as frequently as he has, Rafaela has been almost unfazed. Ahead of each play, he reminds himself to stay low, whereas in the outfield he needs to be more mobile to quickly track a ball.
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'We're in a unique situation with Rafa that he doesn't really need a lot of work at second base and he doesn't need a lot of work in the outfield,' Hudson said. 'We're confident putting him at second base even if he hasn't worked at second base for the last week or whatever it is. I think it's more about managing the mindset of staying ready, be ready for this situation or this play in the game.'
One of those plays came in the series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers in late July. Rafaela caught a hard liner with one out and sprawled to the second-base bag to double off the runner in a tight game, helping the Red Sox to a key victory.
'His instincts are off the charts,' Cora said. 'It's a joy watching him play defense at center, at second, at short. He's that good.'
Meanwhile, on days when Rafaela shifts from center to second, Duran shifts from left field to center.
For Duran, the move to center is one he actually prefers, returning to a position at which he's more comfortable, but one he'd ceded to Rafaela because the latter is that much better defensively. Duran is no slouch in center, though, having finished as a Gold Glove finalist at the position last season.
'I'm not going to say it's easy because nowhere is easy,' Duran said. 'But it's a little easier to see the ball off the bat in center field than it is for me in a corner, especially at Fenway, where I'm the closest left field to the hitter in the league.'
Duran noted his instincts in left have been less sharp this season as he's had difficulty at times reading the backspin on the ball from the left-field angle. He's still posted 5 DRS between center and left, but part of his issue in left has been overthinking his reads.
'You really find out how fast your brain can work when you try and trust your first step and a million scenarios run through your head before you even go after the ball,' he said.
'Last year, I played center and had that mentality of like, I'm just gonna go after every single ball like it was mine,' he added. 'I've definitely gotten passive this year in left.'
The moving parts have caused a little madness, but it's working for now. As for Mayer, he's been building back strength in his wrist after an anti-inflammatory shot Aug. 2. He opted for the shot instead of surgery to try to get back as quickly as possible.
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Until then, Rafaela will move to a less comfortable position at second and Duran will slide to a more comfortable spot in center, but both players are willing to do what it takes whenever it is needed to keep the team rolling.
'I just play whatever they need me,' Rafaela said. 'I'm open. I really just want to win.'
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