Before Friday night’s game at Fenway Park even started, there was buzz … and didn’t include the actual players warming up for the home team.
For starters, the game’s top prospect, Roman Anthony, had entrenched himself into the minds of those dreaming of what might be regarding the outfielder in the big leagues. Only two players in the entire minor leagues have hit more balls 100 mph or better than Anthony, who has managed the feat 22 times.
That scenario, of course, led to questions about freeing up a possible roster spot to make room for Anthony. That, in turn, paved the way for pregame inquiries about Ceddanne Rafaela.
Alex Cora was asked pregame how patient he can be with Ceddanne Rafaela struggling as a hitter while Roman Anthony continues to dominate Triple-A:
“…[He] helped us win a game two days ago defensively. He’s been doing a lot of good things for us – it doesn’t always have to be… pic.twitter.com/AxsIRJmVz3
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) April 18, 2025
What happens? Rafaela hits a two-run home run, helping the Red Sox claim their 10-3 win over the White Sox.
Ceddanne Rafaela gets to put on the Wally head for the first time this season as he launches a two-run homer to increase the Red Sox lead over Chicago to 6-1.
Photo by Maddie Malhotra/Boston Red Sox/Getty Image pic.twitter.com/GDeNo6WS4I
— WEEI Red Sox Network (@SoxBooth) April 19, 2025
There were also the images coming from Rochester, N.Y. of Marcelo Mayer duplicating his Worcester Red Sox teammate, Anthony, from the night before. Friday, it was the shortstop who claimed a grand slam, reminding Red Sox followers of the potential he put on display throughout all of spring training.
It had been why Trevor Story’s name wasn’t routinely surfaced by many as part of the solution when it came to cementing the Red Sox’ 2025 narrative. That also changed in a hurry Friday night.
Story highlighted what has become a stellar start to the young season with a pair of three-run home runs, raising his batting average to .364 and OPS to 1.003 after beginning the season going 2-for-15. Only the Yankees’ Paul Goldschmidt now has more multi-hit games than Story (8).
It has been the much-needed – if not, routinely talked-about – element of the Red Sox path to hanging with the American League big boys.
Alex Cora on a big night for Trevor Story, who went 3-4 with 2 home runs and 6 RBI 🔥
“He’s such a good athlete, that we’ve taken away the thought process now. Yeah he has a plan going in, but we give him the license to swing. And sometimes it doesn’t look good metrics wise,… pic.twitter.com/bU90vOfF0a
— Tom Carroll (@yaboiTCfresh) April 19, 2025
“Yeah, I feel really good,” Story said. “It’s been that way for a week or two, and now it’s just the chance to focus on hitting the ball hard. That’s really it. And for me, it’s very simple. It’s very short. It’s obviously a good feeling when you feel like you can hit the ball hard a lot.”
It has all allowed for one of the most valued commodities when it comes to a baseball season and an MLB organization – patience.
There were other examples. Romy Gonzalez allowing Cora to pick his spots with the struggling Triston Casas. And there was the ability to lean on Hunter Dobbins for another quality fill-in start, this time allowing just one earned run in six innings.
It’s a luxury that Cora knows all to well, having been part of that dynamic while waiting for Dustin Pedroia to pull out of his rookie funk during the first month of the 2007 season. It didn’t hurt that the Sox stood at 14-7 in first-place through the first 21 games of that season, with Cora carrying a .945 OPS.
The next thing the Red Sox knew, the guy whose batting average was sitting at .191 through those first three weeks would win the A.L. Rookie of the Year with his team being crowned world champs.
In other words, when it comes to April – and sometimes the entire season – it pays to being able to stay the course. Thanks to Story and Rafaela, it’s a current path that seems to be working out well enough.
