| Ceddanne Rafaela | |
|---|---|
 Rafaela with theBoston Red Sox in 2024 | |
| Boston Red Sox – No. 3 | |
| Utility player | |
| Born: (2000-09-18)September 18, 2000 (age 24) Willemstad,Curaçao | |
Bats: Right Throws: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| August 28, 2023, for the Boston Red Sox | |
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) | |
| Batting average | .246 |
| Home runs | 17 |
| Runs batted in | 80 |
| Stolen bases | 22 |
| Teams | |
| |
Ceddanne Chipper Nicasio Marte Rafaela (born September 18, 2000) is a Curaçaoan professionalbaseballutility player for theBoston Red Sox ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.
Rafaela participated in the2012 Little League World Series as a member of theWillemstad team representing theCaribbean Region.[1] He signed with theBoston Red Sox as an international free agent in July 2017.[2] Rafaela made his professional debut in 2018 with theDominican Summer League Red Sox. In 2019, he played for theGulf Coast Red Sox batting .248/.330/.425 andLowell Spinners batting .182/.167/.182.
Rafaela did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of theminor league season because of theCOVID-19 pandemic.[3] In 2021, he played for theSalem Red Sox, batting .251/.305/.424.[4] He started 2022 with theGreenville Drive before being promoted to thePortland Sea Dogs.[5][6] Rafaela was selected to the 2022All-Star Futures Game.[7] For the season, Rafaela was named minor-league Defensive Player of the Year by the Red Sox organization.[8] On November 15, Rafaela was added to Boston's40-man roster.[9]
In January 2023, Rafaela was ranked the 71st best prospect byBaseball America list and the 53rd best prospect byFangraphs.[10][11] Rafaela was initially optioned to the Triple-AWorcester Red Sox to begin the 2023 season.[12] However, on March 28, the Red Sox announced that Rafaela would begin back in Double-A Portland so he could work on his approach at the plate without having to adjust to the higher level.[13] On May 13, Rafaela set a franchise record after stealing six bases in a game against theSomerset Patriots—he was initially credited with seven steals but had one taken away due todefensive indifference.[14] Rafaela was promoted to Worcester on June 28.[15] On August 28, he was added to Boston's major-league roster.[16] He made his MLB debut that evening, hitting a single in his firstat bat.[17] On September 12, in the second game of the doubleheader against theNew York Yankees, Rafaela hit his first major-league home run, estimated at 400 feet, offCarlos Rodón.[18] In September, Rafaela was recognized as the Red Sox' minor-league baserunner of the year for 2023.[19] In 2023 with the Red Sox, he had aslash line of .241/.281/.386.[20]
Rafaela was on Boston'sOpening Day roster to begin the 2024 season.[21] On April 8, 2024, Rafaela signed an eight-year, $50 million contract extension with the Red Sox, locking him up through the 2031 season.[22] On July 5, 2024, Rafaela hit a two-run home run in the top of the tenth inning to help secure a 5-3 win for the Red Sox against the New York Yankees in his first game atYankee Stadium.[23]
In 2024, he batted .246/.274/.390 with 15 home runs and 75 RBIs. He walked 2.6% of the time, the lowest percentage in Major League Baseball.[24]
Rafaela's middle name of "Chipper" comes fromChipper Jones, due to his mother being a fan of theAtlanta Braves.[25] He speaks English, Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamento.[26]