Chasing a Gold Glover: Ceddanne Rafaela

Good stuff about Rafaela, his adjustments and other prospects.

Binelas »…He’s a gold glove CFer, GG SS, he makes every play on the field look routine, and it’s like some balls that…you know… average OFer can’t even get to…you know…double in the gap…he’s camped underneath it to catch this ball…it’s such fun watching him play…”



I won’t rest till he’s ranked in the Top 10 way ahead of Gilberto Jimenez 😅

He's always had that "X factor" in the way that Pedroia, Pedro, and Mookie did coming up. That supreme self-confidence and sense of eventual success, the knowledge that they *will* succeed. Used to being the underdog, the little guy, and flipping it to their advantage. He's a long way from being a superstar/HOFer, but a bunch of us saw that video of his LLWS beaning and I think we knew back then that he had that rarest of skills...the ability to frame failure as opportunity for subsequent success, and to hunt the next challenge. I like Gilberto a lot as a player, I think he's eventually an above-average CF with LD pop. But nobody in the system...and that includes Casas and Mayer...seems nearly as likely as Cedanne to reach his 95th %ile outcome. What that is I'm excited to find out, because aside from the low walk rate (and the superior defensive ability, which is saying something), he sure looks similar to Mookie development-wise so far.

Let's hope Rafaela continues his development and the pop he's shown early is legit. That twitter thread is exciting to read though. It would definitely seem he has a very good shot to at least be a good major league bench piece with his ability to play so many different positions at a rather high level defensivly.

Yeah, he's in that 2nd tier (First is of course:Casas, Yorke, Bello, Mayer) with Walter, Bleis and want to see more from Bonaci & Hamilton.

Chris Clegg in his great series of tweets says that he's more like 5'11" now then 5'8", so that comparison is, alas, no longer accurate.

There's a certain triple crown winner who was/is 5'11"...

Don't overlook Lugo, Wikelman & Binelis.

By the end of the year we are going to be top heavy.

Move that we rename this thread "Feats of Ceddanne."

Since he move up his numbers keep improving game after game. At this pace he will be in Fenway next year and learning from JBJ.

Are there examples of guys reaching the majors that are elite defensively at both SS and CF?

Rafaela may not be considered "elite" but every scouting report I've read raves about his defense both on the dirt and on the grass.

Obviously there are plenty of guys who can play a variety of positions very well but Ceddanne seams unique in that you could view him as a future shortstop or center fielder if his bat works out.