​Red Sox OF Ceddanne Rafaela predicted to win MLB award despite IL news originally appeared on The Sporting News.
Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.The Boston Red Sox have bounced back from a bad start and look likely to make the MLB postseason. With a strong pitching staff in the rotation and bullpen, plus a resurgent offense, this team can go very far.But it’s not just those phases of the game where the Red Sox have thrived. Boston has also gotten plenty of great value from their defense. More specifically, from a few select defenders, one of which being center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela.Unfortunately, he recently hit the injured list for the Red Sox and will miss some time. However, that shouldn’t stop him from winning an MLB award. As MLB.com’s Jared Greenspan, Brian Murphy, and Jason Foster predict, Rafaela should be the AL’s Gold Glove-winning center fielder.Ceddanne Rafaela predicted to win AL Gold Glove”When healthy, there’s no one better at that spot in the junior circuit. Rafaela, a first-time Gold Glove Award winner last season, has made the most five-star catches of any player in the Majors (nine),” the MLB.com trio write.Rafaela winning his second Gold Glove Award after the 2026 season should not be a surprise at all. He’s been elite defensively and one of baseball’s best overall.According to Baseball Savant, Rafaela’s Fielding Run Value is tied for the fourth-best mark of all players in MLB during the 2026 season.Rafaela has a 15 Fielding Run Value, which is the most among all American League outfielders, second-most in the AL to only Bobby Witt Jr. at 17, and second among all outfielders to Pete Crow-Armstrong at 27 FRV.MORE: Why Chad Tracy has real chance to shed interim manager tag for Red SoxBut with Rafaela now on the injured list, is there a chance he loses this award? Most likely not, as Tristan Peters is second among all AL center fielders with a 10 FRV.It would take an incredible final month of the year for Peters, or any other center fielder, to make up the difference needed to win this AL center field Gold Glove award.So, despite Rafaela landing on the injured list this September, he should still win the AL’s Gold Glove award for center fielders. He’s been that good defensively all season long, and there isn’t another outfielder within the same tier as the Red Sox star.More MLB news:Jose Berrios ‘extremely unlikely’ to opt out of $48 million deal with Blue JaysBo Bichette likely not to opt out of Mets $42 million contractHow Reds’ Sal Stewart has MLB history on his side for NL Rookie of the Year awardKevin McGonigle is runaway favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year for TigersPhillies’ Jesus Luzardo on track to be best road pitcher in MLB history since 1913