The Boston Red Sox are hopeful that center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela’s right hamstring tightness is not a serious injury, according to MLB Network’s Jon Morosi.
Rafaela returned to the lineup Wednesday night against the Cleveland Guardians after missing 17 games with a right quad strain. He opened the game with a diving catch to rob Steven Kwan of extra bases, then singled in the second inning. He appeared to move well in the field and on the basepaths.
Rafaela remained in the game after manager Chad Tracy and the team’s head athletic trainer checked on him, and he took his position in the top of the third. Tracy would go on to pull him from the game during warmups, replacing him with Jarren Duran. The Red Sox then went on to win the game, 1-0.
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Rafaela is batting .284 with a .319 on-base percentage and a .444 slugging percentage this season with 16 home runs and 70 RBIs in 136 games. Morosi noted that the Red Sox are a better team with Rafaela in the lineup with a 71-60 record, compared to 14-13 without him.
Tracy spoke with reporters post-game saying that the team made the change after noticing that Rafaela was flexing his leg in the outfield. Rafaela said that the issue was more of a cramp than anything else. He is scheduled to get an MRI on Thursday.
The Red Sox clinched a postseason berth over the weekend and after Wednesday night’s win they will officially play in the American League Wild Card Series against the New York Yankees in the Bronx on September 29.
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