Going into the season, the Boston Red Sox and their fans knew that shortstop position was going to be a revolving door until the inevitable return of Trevor Story from UCL surgery later on in the season. Even then, it was uncertain if Story would play shortstop, second base, or would DH once he was brought back.
Sure, Story has made his mark with the Red Sox this season defensively, but after being called up to the major leagues for the first time just over a week ago No. 3 prospect Ceddanne Rafaela may be giving him a run for his money, both as a defender and offensively.
Ceddanne Rafaela's offense has been more consistent
While Rafaela has played in one-third of the games that Story has this season, he is definitely hitting more consistently than Story has.
Even in games where Rafaela has only had one plate appearances, there has only been one instance where he has not recorded a hit. Story, on the other hand, has gone hitless in 14 of the 24 games he has played in this season with six one-hit games in there as well.
Sure, it's a smaller sample size for Rafaela, but just last night, he was given one opportunity at the plate and came through with a pinch-hit, RBI double. The night before, when he started in Story's place he went 3-for-6 with two runs scored.
The two are equals defensively, but Ceddanne Rafaela wins due to his versatility
While Story and Rafaela both have fielding percentages over .900 in 1.000 and .933, respectively, Rafaela is definitely giving Story a run for his money here too.
Even before he came back from his surgery, Story was intent on playing shortstop for Boston, and didn't have many intentions of playing anywhere else. To that end, the Red Sox had no intentions of putting him anywhere else either.
Rafaela, however, has been a bit of a 22-year-old version of Mookie Betts for Boston this season. He has gotten his fair share of chances to play in the field as an outfielder (which they signed him as), but has also acted as a Swiss army knife of sorts playing some shortstop and second base.
Ceddanne Rafaela isn't going to run Trevor Story out of town though
The truth of the matter is that Rafaela isn't going to run Story out of town though. When Story signed his six-year deal with the Red Sox, he wasn't expected to be done as quickly as 1, 2, 3 and he especially didn't expect to be run out of town by Rafaela.
While there's a chance Rafaela makes the team out of spring training next year, it most likely will not be as a shortstop, it will most likely be as an outfielder. In fact, the people he is most likely running out of town are Alex Verdugo and Adam Duvall.
Both are veteran bats who have shown some promise, but Verdugo is slowly playing (or lack thereof) his way out of town himself through his lack of discipline this season. Rafaela is not one who would take the opportunity to play in Boston lightly, so don't be surprised to see the team break camp with Rafaela, but without Verdugo.