Red Sox Reportedly Keeping Two Top Prospects In Boston, Demote Young Speedster

Boston can see what they have with a month to go

Scott Neville | Aug 31, 2023

Red Sox Reportedly Keeping Two Top Prospects In Boston, Demote Young Speedster /

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Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox seemingly are about to begin a "let the kids play" movement as their postseason hopes dwindle by the day.

At this point, there is nearly zero chance that the Red Sox play another meaningful baseball game in 2023. With that in mind, they might as well see what a pair of top prospects are capable of in the final 28 games of the season.

The Red Sox's No. 3 prospect, versatile Ceddanne Rafaela, received his first taste of big-league action against the Houston Astros this week and will be sticking with the team in Kansas City to take on the Royals according to MLB.com's Ian Browne.

Boston also reinstated outfielder Wilyer Abreu from the paternity list. Middle infielder David Hamilton was optioned to Triple-A Worcester as a corresponding move according to the club.

With Rafaela's super-utility versatility, it allowed Boston to keep both him and Abreu on the roster. That news is very exciting, as both players have been racking for the WooSox and could be a part of a new young core should they pan out.

Rafaela hit .302 with 54 extra-base hits including 20 home runs, 79 RBIs and .869 OPS in 108 games between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester. He also recorded 36 steals in 49 attempts and is said to be a Gold-Glove-caliber defender in the outfield as well as a plus defender in the infield.

Abreu hit .274 with 34 extra-base hits including 22 home runs, 65 RBIs and a .929 OPS in 86 games for Triple-A Worcester. The 24-year-old is the No. 17 prospect in the system according to MLB Pipeline.

While the Red Sox's postseason hopes are little to none, there is still a reason to watch as the season comes to a close.

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Published Aug 31, 2023

SCOTT NEVILLE

Scott Neville covers the Boston Red Sox for Sports Illustrated's new page "Inside The Red Sox." Before starting "Inside The Red Sox", Neville attended Merrimack College, where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media with a minor in Marketing. Neville spent all four years with Merrimack's radio station WMCK, where he grew as a radio/podcast host and producer. His propensity for being in front of a microphone eventually expanded to film, where he produced multiple short films alongside his then-roommate and current co-worker Stephen Mottram. On a journey that began as a way to receive easy credits via film classes, he received a call from "It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia" star Charlie Day. Day advised him to make a feature-length film, which he completed his senior year. While writing the film, Neville completed an internship for United Way as part of their NFL Partnership Program. Neville ran the blog for a team of interns and hosted an internet show called "United Way's NFL Partnership Series" where he interviewed NFL alumni. After college Neville wrote for SB Nation's "Over The Monster," a Red Sox sister site of the flagship brand. His work would eventually lead him to a job as a content producer with NESN, where he would cover all sports. After developing as a writer with the top regional network in the world, he was given the opportunity to join the Sports Illustrated Media Group in his current endeavor as the publisher of "Inside The Red Sox." The successful launch and quick rise of "Inside The Red Sox" led to Neville joining the Baseball Essential ownership group, a national baseball site under SIMG. Follow him on Twitter: @ScottNeville46 Email: nevilles@merrimack.edu