Ceddanne Rafaela made the highlight play of the season, and it even left members of the Red Sox “in awe.” Boston took the series opener from the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Monday thanks to a “humble approach” at the plate. The Red Sox also got it done on defense with Jarren Duran […]
Ceddanne Rafaela made the highlight play of the season, and it even left members of the Red Sox "in awe."
Boston took the series opener from the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on Monday thanks to a "humble approach" at the plate.
The Red Sox also got it done on defense with Jarren Duran continuing to show off his athleticism. But it was Rafaela who was the talk of the night when he made a twisting, leaping catch in the bottom of the fifth inning during a key point in the matchup. The 23-year-old admitted he didn't realize how difficult the catch was until he saw it on an iPad, nor did he think he had to jump up for the ball.
It still made for an incredible play, and it was why Alex Cora called Rafaela "elite" at center field. His teammates also raved about the play after Monday night's win.
"He's unbelievable," Connor Wong told reporters, per Sean McAdam of MassLive. "You see him, tracking a ball down like that. He ends up with it and you’re kind of in awe. Even though you see him do it before, again and again. You're just impressed every time. (Moving between short and center) makes it more impressive, too. But the kind of athlete he is, he can do it all."
Wong was reminded that he also needed to move to different positions at various points this season, but the Red Sox star halted any comparisons between himself and Rafaela.
"Not like that," Wong said. "Not like that. He's a different breed, for sure."
Wong himself also has made highlight plays, and the Red Sox will hope for more of that from their stars in the middle matchup of the series against the Royals.
