Ceddanne Rafaela of the Boston Red Sox reacts in the batting cage during a Spring Training team workout at JetBlue Park at Fenway South on February 17, 2024 in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
Several international-born players were either released prior to the end of spring training or were promoted to the major leagues prior to the start of the 2024 Major League Baseball season.
Curacao Outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela Makes the Red Sox Opening Day Roster – Rafaela, 23, was born in Willemstad, Curaçao and will attempt to play in his first full season in MLB with Boston and was called up to the bigs on March 23 right before the end of spring training, Red Sox manager Alex Cora told Boston Globe reporter Alex Speier.
Cora: Ceddanne Rafaela has made the team. “He’s very dynamic, athletic, versátiles he’s a good kid, too.”
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) March 23, 2024
Rafaela was ranked No. 4 in the Red Sox farm system and is ranked No. 76 as an overall prospect according to MLBpipeline.com.
Rafaela played in 21 games during spring training and hit .281 with 57 at-bats smacking 16 hits, six doubles, three home runs, eight RBI, four walks, and 12 strikeouts.
Last season, Rafaela made his Major League debut on Aug. 23, 2023 at Fenway Park against the Houston Astros. Rafaela played in 28 games with Boston and batted .241 in 89 plate appearances recording 20 hits, six doubles, two home runs, five RBI, three stolen bases, four walks and 28 strikeouts.
During his time between Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester in 2023 , Rafaela played in 108 games batting .302 with 485 plate appearances smacking 134 hits, 31 doubles, three triples, 20 home runs, 79 RBI, 36 stolen bases, 26 walks, 103 strikeouts, and a .870 OPS.
Rafaela was selected as an MiLB.com Organization All-Star in 2022 and 2023 along with being selected to the Futures Game in 2022 at Dodger Stadium during the All-Star Game.
Nationals Release RHP Luis Perdomo On March 21 – Perdomo, 30, was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and has played six seasons in MLB with the San Diego Padres from 2016-20 and the Milwaukee Brewers in 2022. Perdomo played overseas in Japan in Nippon Professional Baseball with the Chiba Lotte Marines during the 2023 season.
In spring training with the Nationals, Perdomo went 1-1 in seven appearances out of the bullpen and posted a 7.71 ERA, throwing seven innings and allowing 12 hits, six earned runs, home run, three walks and three strikeouts.
Last season with the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan, Perdomo was an NPB All-Star, appearing in 53 games out of the bullpen and recorded 41 holds, going 1-3 with a 2.13 ERA. Perdomo threw 50.2 innings and allowed 49 hits, 12 earned runs, one home run, 15 walks, 41 strikeouts, and a 1.263 WHIP.
In the 2022-23 LIDOM season with Gigantes del Cibao, Perdomo went 1-0 and did not allow an earned run, throwing 14.1 innings in 14 appearances and allowing seven hits, one walk, and striking out 11 batters.
During the 2022 season, Perdomo split time between Triple-A Nashville and the Brewers. Perdomo threw 30.1 innings with Nashville and posted a 2-0 record with a 2.67 ERA in 24 appearances and three starts, earning four saves while allowing 21 hits, nine earned runs, two home runs, four walks, 33 strikeouts, and a 0.824 WHIP.
With the Brewers, Perdomo pitched in 14 games out of the bullpen and posted a 3-0 record with a 3.80 ERA, throwing 23.2 innings allowing 24 hits, 10 earned runs, four home runs, three walks, 12 strikeouts, and a 1.41 WHIP.
In his six seasons in MLB, Perdomo has a career record of 23-31 with a 5.12 ERA in 147 appearances and 61 starts, throwing 468 innings, allowing 537 hits, 266 earned runs, 57 home runs, 164 walks, 345 strikeouts, and a 1.498 WHIP.