Red Sox All-Star On Clutch Ceddanne Rafaela: 'He's The Guy'

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela has taken his game to a whole new level at the plate this season.

Rafaela, 25, is known for his exceptional defense, winning a Gold Glove Award last season, but stepped up his offensive game this year. The young outfielder is slashing .291/.346/.457 with seven home runs and 32 runs batted in through 65 games, but more importantly, he continues to be clutch in the biggest situations.

Red Sox All-Star outfielder Jarren Duran praised Rafaela after the 25-year-old clutched up against the Rangers with a two-run single in the team's 6-3 victory on Saturday, saying there's nobody he'd rather have at the plate in a clutch situation.

“I’m never worried when it’s him,” Duran said, per MassLive's Christopher Smith. “I was talking to the boys around the dugout, I was like, ‘There’s nobody else I want up at the plate right now than Rafaela.’ In any situation where we need to come up clutch or something like that, he’s the guy.

“He’s got literally ice in his veins. He was born for those moments. And he keeps proving everybody wrong when he does it so it’s sick. He’s been sharpening his craft every single day and it’s so awesome to see it come to fruition and everybody else gets to see that. So it’s such a sick thing to see.”

This isn't the first time that Rafaela has stepped up in the biggest moments for the Red Sox this season. The young outfielder has had multiple clutch moments throughout the season, including a tie-breaking pinch-hit home run last month.

Rafaela, continuing to excel in clutch moments, could be just what Boston's offense needs with the team still in the playoff picture.

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