Boston Red Sox shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela will be misplaced defensively when Trevor Story returns, which Alex Cora revealed in all likelihood will be Saturday.
But Cora isn't worried about Rafaela finding another home on the diamond.
"Something (Craig Breslow) always says and I told Ceddanne the other day, I really believe that if you tell this kid there's an island and you throw him in the middle of the island, he'll find a way to his country," Cora told reporters prior to Friday's series opener against the Chicago White Sox at Fenway Park. "It will take him a few days but he'll get out of it because he is that gifted. He's that smart."
The Red Sox could move Rafaela back to the outfield where he saw a good chunk of time already this season with Story taking over the everyday shortstop duties. But instead, Cora revealed the Red Sox will put Rafaela at second base for the remainder of the season.
Cora said the soon-to-be 24-year-old has worked out at second base recently and the two had a conversation about a week ago about the position change. Rafaela has made four appearances this season at second, but has yet to start a game at the middle infield spot.
Rafaela's play in the outfield is Gold Glove-worthy, but even though he can come up with high-reel plays on the infield dirt, his defensive output does dip. He had a minus-3 defensive runs saved over 80 games at shortstop compared to nine defensive runs saved during 75 games in center field.
But the Red Sox don't have much room on the outfield grass for Rafaela with Jarren Duran, Tyler O'Neill and Wilyer Abreu taking the starting spots and Cora working Rob Refsnyder into the lineup against left-handed pitchers.
And with Boston still having a hole at second base, especially with David Hamilton on the injured list and Vaughn Grissom unable to crack the big league roster, the Red Sox believe Rafaela's superb athleticism will translate to the right side of the infield. The move will also keep Rafaela's bat -- he's hitting .253 with 14 home runs, 63 RBIs and 17 stolen bases -- in the lineup as well.
"He'll go to second and make plays and get used to it. We're not worried about it," Cora said. "It's just something else in his resume and we expect him to be a good defensive second baseman."
