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Red Sox notebook: Alex Cora has high hopes for rookies Enmanuel Valdez, Ceddanne Rafaela

Over the final month of the season three of Boston’s high prospects — Ceddanne Rafaela, Enmanuel Valdez and Wilyer Abreu — bought intensive enjoying time of their first style of the massive leagues.

Red Sox supervisor Alex Cora ceaselessly praised all three rookies all through September, and in the direction of the tip of Monday’s year-end press convention he supplied his ideas on what could possibly be subsequent for 2 of them.

Valdez and Rafaela each have spectacular instruments, Cora stated, however want to enhance in essential areas in the event that they’re going to turn out to be dependable on a regular basis massive leaguers. For Valdez, the protection wants work, whereas Rafaela has to enhance the standard of his at bats or he could possibly be uncovered by massive league pitchers.

One of the prospects acquired in final summer season’s Christian Vazquez commerce, Valdez might probably have a possibility to earn common enjoying time at second base subsequent season. Over the ultimate month he largely platooned on the place with Pablo Reyes, and as issues stand he’s in line to compete for the spot with Reyes and commerce deadline acquisition Luis Urias.

To finest put together him for that competitors, Cora stated Valdez will spend a month enjoying winter ball within the Dominican Republic with Red Sox third base coach Carlos Febles. Improving his first step, his angles and his arm energy will all be areas of focus for Valdez.

“So there are a few things we’ve identified with him where if he does it he can be a good second baseman, because the bat plays,” Cora stated. “The plate discipline, the impact of the baseball, the at bat he puts together, it’s impressive. We’ll see what happens, getting the reps in the Dominican Republic and playing second base exclusively is going to help him out.”

Given his defensive skills at each heart discipline and within the center infield, Rafaela may have a path to common enjoying time. Cora stated to comprehend his potential Rafaela must get stronger and enhance his plate self-discipline, which has been an ongoing focus all through the 23-year-old’s skilled profession.

“There’s a few things mechanically we believe he needs to do to get to the fastball and to hit the ball to right-center,” Cora stated. “He had a good season, it’s not easy to come here to the big leagues and dominate, but you saw the skillset, this kid is going to impact the defense, he’s very good at what he does and offensively we believe he’ll be capable of impacting the lineup.”

Asked if it’s lifelike to think about Rafaela incomes an day by day position like Triston Casas this previous season, nevertheless, Cora pumped the breaks.

“It’s too early for that,” he stated. “We’ll see what happens, there’s a few things he’s going to do in the upcoming months to be better and go to spring training, he’ll play a lot in spring training so we’ll see what happens.”

Arroyo a free agent

One center infielder who doubtless gained’t be again with the Red Sox subsequent season is Christian Arroyo, who was designated for project earlier this summer season and has now elected at no cost company, in accordance with the Worcester Red Sox transaction log.

Originally Boston’s beginning second baseman, Arroyo was faraway from the roster as half of a bigger midseason shakeup following an underwhelming season through which he batted .241 with a .638 OPS. His numbers fell off a cliff as soon as he bought to Triple-A, with Arroyo batting .139 with no house runs and two RBI in 18 video games with the WooSox.

By opting at no cost company, the 28-year-old is hoping for a recent begin and that he can land in a positive state of affairs to renew his massive league profession.

Minor league catcher Caleb Hamilton has additionally elected at no cost company, per the WooSox.

Lucchino pays tribute

Since information broke of Tim Wakefield’s demise, tributes have been pouring in from all corners of the Red Sox household, and on Tuesday former Red Sox president Larry Lucchino, now chairman and principal proprietor of the Worcester Red Sox in addition to chairman of the Jimmy Fund, supplied his ideas.

“My sentiments are of sadness, for this great and good man was taken far too soon,” Lucchino stated, “however they’re additionally of anger, as they’re at any time when an harmless individual is struck by a type of most cancers.  We have come so very far within the therapy of cancers, and this crushing information brings into stark reduction — but once more — that now we have miles to go.

“The Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute have truly lost a champion. Tim’s relentless dedication to our pediatric and adult patients and their families was immeasurable. He was an advocate for the mission to defy cancer on and off the field through fundraising, visiting patients, and bringing awareness to this horrific disease. He was a hero, both on and off the field. The entire Dana-Farber and Jimmy Fund community mourn his loss.”

Lucchino went on to extoll Wakefield’s contributions as a member of the Red Sox and his position in main the membership to 2 World Series championships, in addition to his off-field contributions all through New England and in his hometown of Melbourne, Fla.

“Who knows what future contributions he could have continued to make had we not been robbed of his generosity, and had he not been robbed of the opportunity,” he stated. “For surely he would have continued to do so. He was a remarkable man.”

Lucchino completed by providing his condolences to Wakefield’s household, and in addition stated going ahead the WooSox annual Brain Cancer Awareness Day will probably be held in tribute to Wakefield.

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