Red Sox

Ceddanne Rafaela torches Yankees again in Red Sox’ comeback win

Rafaela has three homers in four games against the Yankees in July.

By Colin McCarthy

July 26, 2024

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At his best, Ceddanne Rafaela is one of Boston’s best and most exciting young players, both offensively and in the field.

And against the New York Yankees this month, Rafaela has frequently been at his best.

On Friday, Rafaela hit a momentum-shifting home run that helped spark a comeback at Fenway Park. It was his third long ball in four games against the Yankees in the month of July.

Not only was the 398-foot home run a no-doubter — driven well over the Green Monster — it also couldn’t have come at a better time for the Red Sox. Just a half-inning prior, Aaron Judge hit a monstrous 470-foot home run that baffled even the longer-tenured media members in attendance. It was a crushing blow that made it officially a 7-4 game, but seemed to take the life out of Boston fans.

The game could have easily gotten away from the Red Sox after that. Instead, Rafaela responded emphatically to bring Boston back within one run.

“These are the type of games you want to do it in. It was awesome to do it here at Fenway,” Rafaela said of his clutch home run. “This game is us, right here. We don’t put our head down, we fight till the end. This is what we do.

“It’s special to help the team. As a player, that’s what you want to do every day.”

Rafaela has bounced back and forth between center field and shortstop this season, but hasn’t missed a beat playing either position. With Boston’s growing outfield depth, it seems the middle infield will be a more permanent home for Rafaela, at least for the remainder of 2024.

If that’s the case, his outfield-level arm in the infield should continue to be a weapon for Boston defensively. Early in Friday’s contest, he threw out a New York runner at the plate with ease after racing to collect a ground ball on the infield grass.

Rafaela has been gaining traction in the American League Rookie of the Year race, and his complete performance against the Yankees on Friday encapsulates exactly why he should be considered.