Boston — The Red Sox started Ceddanne Rafaela at shortstop on Monday for the first time this season, and manager Alex Cora hinted that it might happen again occasionally as the team looks for new lineup combinations following some injuries to the middle infield.
Cora added that Wilyer Abreu, the outfielder, was given more playing time in the decision. Jarren Duran was in centre field, and Abreu was in right field.
“We’ll use him at short; Rafaela will play short,” Cora remarked. But that has nothing to do with the shortstop issue. The goal here is to get at-bats for Abreu. Willie needs to play, I swear to you. Thus, this is how we’re going to locate him at-bats. Every day, he will play against righties. So, we’ll manage. He will play against righties, but we’ll rearrange people.
Over the first two and a half weeks of the season, Rafaela and Abreu have both had difficulties. Rafaela is hitting.170 with.503 at-bats while Abreu is only hitting.231 with a.618 OPS. Rafaela, though, has contributed on the field by being a fantastic centre fielder.
When asked how Rafaela should get going at the plate, Cora told her to slow down. With our rookies, we’ve gone through this the past two years. We have been very patient with them, and now we can see where they are: Jarren in 2022 and Triston Casas last year. Thus, please be patient. When I played here, I discovered that all you need is patience. This isn’t 4A; these are the big leagues. There are only fifty at-bats in spring training, so whatever. Whatever moniker you choose for it. I believe that we give hitting such a big attention.There is no significance to the 400 in spring training.
They’re improving their timing, and they occasionally have to face pitchers from the Rookie League. When you score a hit, no one discusses it. All you need to do is be patient with him. He has been swinging and chasing a lot, which isn’t what we want him to do at all. We need to get back to controlling the strike zone. He develops into a decent hitter after doing that. When they grow (run into problems), even the skilled batters.We only need to assist him and have patience with him.
Rafaela has, for the most part, handled his early-season offensive setbacks well, according to Cora.
He’s been fine, Cora reported. “He has behaved well. similar to any other child. Every now and then, he will slam the helmet. But he’s been excellent when it comes to playing short, second base or centre field. He isn’t going to the pitch with his bat.
While Abreu has only made six starts in the first fifteen games, he has recently improved offensively, recording multiple hits in consecutive starts.
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