Ceddanne Rafaela

Ceddanne Chipper Nicasio Marte Rafaela (born September 18, 2000) is a Curaçaoan professional baseball outfielder for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Career
Rafaela participated in the 2012 Little League World Series as a member of the Willemstad team representing the Caribbean Region. He signed with the Boston Red Sox as an international free agent in July 2017. Rafaela made his professional debut in 2018 with the Dominican Summer League Red Sox. In 2019, he played for the Gulf Coast Red Sox and Lowell Spinners.

Rafaela did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He returned in 2021 to play for the Salem Red Sox. He started 2022 with the Greenville Drive before being promoted to the Portland Sea Dogs. Rafaela was selected to the 2022 All-Star Futures Game. For the season, Rafaela was named minor-league Defensive Player of the Year by the Red Sox organization. On November 15, Rafaela was added to Boston's 40-man roster.

In January 2023, Rafaela was ranked 71st in the Baseball America list of baseball's top 100 prospects. Rafaela was initially optioned to the Triple-A Worcester Red Sox to begin the 2023 season. However, on March 28, the Red Sox announced that Rafaela would begin in Double-A Portland so he could work on his approach at the plate without having to adjust to the higher level. On May 13, Rafaela set a franchise record after stealing six bases in a game against the Somerset Patriots—he was initially credited with seven steals, but had one taken away due to defensive indifference. Rafaela was promoted to Worcester on June 28. On August 28, he was added to Boston's major-league active roster. He made his MLB debut that evening, collecting a hit in his first at bat. On September 12, in the second game of the doubleheader against the New York Yankees, Rafaela hit his first major-league home run, estimated at 400 feet, off Carlos Rodon. In September, Rafaela was recognized as the Red Sox' minor-league baserunner of the year for 2023. In 2023 with the Red Sox, he had a slash line of .241/.281/.386.

Rafaela was included as part of Boston's Opening Day roster to begin the 2024 season. On April 8, 2024, Rafaela signed an eight-year, $50 million contract extension with the Red Sox locking him up through the 2031 season. 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 career game at Yankee Stadium.

Personal life
Rafaela's middle name of "Chipper" comes from Chipper Jones, due to his mother being a fan of the Atlanta Braves.