​NEW YORK — Yet another Red Sox player earned a spot on the All-Star team. Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela was added to the American League roster on Friday, marking the fourth Boston player to receive the honor. Rafaela, a first-time All-Star, will replace injured Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge in the game. “I feel great. I’m excited… A lot of emotions,” Rafaela said at Citi Field. “I was happy. Then I called my family with a couple of tears in my eyes. It’s just happiness.”
The news came as the Red Sox endured a grueling, 24-hour travel day from Chicago’s Midway Airport to New York. Interim manager Chad Tracy announced Rafaela’s selection over the plane’s intercom, after being informed by chief baseball officer Craig Breslow earlier in the day. Tracy said the announcement gave the team “a lift” 15 hours into their journey. “That was another one we were watching closely because just seeing the year he has put up on both sides of the ball,” Tracy said. “That was awesome news to get today. A bunch of guys were standing there to smack him and give him a big hug. He put his head in his hands for quite a while, maybe some tears. It means a lot to him to be recognized in that way.” Rafaela added that it was special to see the team so excited for him and that the moment carried real meaning.
In his third full major league season, the 25-year-old Rafaela has grown notably, showing more consistency at the plate while continuing to showcase his standout defense. Heading into Friday’s game against the Mets, Rafaela was batting .283 with eight home runs, 39 RBIs and a .767 OPS over 87 games. He ranks second among American League center fielders in defensive runs saved (DRS) with 15, is tied for third in the league in doubles (21) and triples (three), and sits 10th in the AL in hits (93). “I think I’ve learned to make this my happy place this year,” Rafaela told MassLive in late June. “I’m really enjoying coming to the ballpark. Yeah, man. I’ve learned a lot this year. Besides baseball, I had to grow and learn a lot and make this my happy place.”
FanGraphs places Rafaela high on the league’s charts as well—he ranks second among AL outfielders in WAR with 2.8, trailing only Byron Buxton of Minnesota, who is an All-Star but will miss the game due to injury. For the All-Star selections, Mike Trout, Riley Greene and Cody Bellinger will start for the American League, with Rafaela and Randy Arozarena serving as reserves. Rafaela’s inclusion comes as part of a broader All-Star roster that also features teammates Ranger Suarez, Aroldis Chapman and Willson Contreras on the squad, though Suarez, placed on the injured list Thursday, will not pitch. Rotation-mate Sonny Gray had been considered as a potential replacement for Suarez, but that spot ultimately went to Nick Martinez of Tampa Bay, who joined Rafaela on Friday’s announced roster.