Red Sox prospect Ceddanne Rafaela’s glove and versatility out on the field helped pave his path to the big leagues.
But the 22-year-old center fielder/second baseman also has plenty of pop at the plate.
Boston’s No. 3 prospect (according to MLB.com) showcased his power during Tuesday night’s game against the Yankees, obliterating an inside fastball from New York stater Carlos Rodón for his first career MLB home run.
Rafaela, serving as the leadoff hitter in the second leg of Boston’s doubleheader against New York, pounced on the first pitch delivered by Rodón.
Rafaela’s habit of chasing pitches out of the zone yielded bombastic results in this at-bat, with the youngster turning on Rodón’s fastball and depositing it into the Green Monster for a leadoff dinger.