Why the hell wasn’t Red Sox star Ceddanne Rafaela an All-Star?

Seven (7) outfielders have been named to the American League squad for the 2025 Main League Baseball All-Star Sport. These seven outfielders have been Aaron Decide, Javier Baez, Riley Greene, Byron Buxton, Steven Kwan, Julio Rodriguez, and Randy Arozarena (who was named to the sport as a substitute after Rodriguez opted out).

Now, what do 5 of those seven males have in frequent? I’ll inform you! They’re having a worse season than Boston Red Sox heart fielder Ceddanne Rafaela! As we sit right here on the All-Star break, Ceddanne is batting .271 with a .314 on-base share (strolling nonetheless isn’t actually his factor, don’t fear about it). He has 14 residence runs, 21 doubles, and 48 RBIs. He has 13 stolen bases and a .796 .OPS. Oh, and he’s second in all of baseball (first amongst outfielders) with 15 defensive runs saved and fourth in all of baseball (second amongst outfielders, behind solely the golden god PCA) with 15 outs above common. If he isn’t the very best defender in all the sport, he’s rattling close to shut.

Of the seven males beforehand listed, solely Aaron Decide (clearly) and Byron Buxton (however it’s fairly shut!) are having 2025 seasons that one may describe as “clearly” higher than Rafaela’s. I’ve obtained zero qualms with these two being in over our Ceddy. Buxton not beginning the sport is totally baffling, however that’s what fan voting will get you, I suppose.

Then there’s Detroit Tiger Riley Greene. He’s mashing with 24 residence runs and 78 RBIs to go along with an .879 .OPS on the yr, however Rafaela’s defensive prowess, even with a reasonably worse bat, nonetheless provides him a .4 edge in fWAR. In the same vein is substitute and Seattle Mariner Randy Arozarena. Randy’s bat is nothing to scoff at. He’s slashing .251/.357/.463. However Rafaela’s shining protection as soon as once more provides him the sting in fWAR, this time by .6. Ought to Ceddanne be within the sport over Greene and Arozarena? Most likely, however neither choice is a few gross injustice.

So let’s get to the 2 gross injustices! First is Mariner Julio Rodriguez. Julio, like Ceddanne, is an absolute wizard within the outfield. No one is saying in any other case! He’s worse than Ceddanne, however nonetheless fairly good. Julio’s placement right here comes fully from the great step again he took together with his bat this yr. Rodriguez trails Rafaela in batting common, on-base share, and slugging. In almost 100 extra at-bats, Rodriguez has simply 2 extra RBIs and 13 extra hits, and is tied with Rafaela with 14 lengthy balls. Rafaela, as soon as once more, leads in fWAR by .6.

Picture by Jim McIsaac/Getty Pictures

Cleveland Guardian Steven Kwan is our second injustice. Kwan is a slap hitter who one way or the other solely has a batting common 14 factors larger than Rafaela’s. Kwan is an incredible defender (inferior to Ceddanne, however nonetheless), however his bat leaves ton to be desired this season, Rafaela outpaces him by almost 100 factors in slugging share and greater than 50 factors in .OPS. Gross injustice!

Proper alongside Rodriguez and Kwan within the gross injustice class is Motor Metropolis Kitty Javier Baez. MLB determined, for some motive, to record Baez as an outfielder on this yr’s fan voting website. If one heads over to Baseball Reference, they’ll see that solely 259.2 of Baez’s almost 650 defensive innings this yr got here within the outfield. Moreover, Rafaela leads Baez in almost each offensive statistic besides batting common, the place Baez maintains an evidently essential .04 lead. And for good measure, Ceddanne maintains a 1.8 fWAR lead on Javier (sheesh).

Picture by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Pictures

On the finish of the day, the All-Star Sport doesn’t actually imply something. It’s fully ceremonial now (thank god), and there are snubs and unusual picks each single season. That being mentioned, it will have been so particular to see Ceddanne get rewarded with an look. Over the past yr, he has fully reinvented himself and is popping right into a reputable MVP candidate (no, actually) earlier than our very eyes. Ceddy, you’re an All-Star to me.

Picture by Danielle Parhizkaran/The Boston Globe through Getty Pictures