The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees rivalry has brought forth years of player comparisons for fans to quarrel about.
Red Sox rookie Ceddanne Rafaela and Yankees sophomore Anthony Volpe have been frequent subjects of discussion lately. The two young shortstops have flashed stellar defense and drastic changes at the plate in their short careers, and they have bright futures ahead of them in MLB.
But we're here to clear up any speculation: Rafaela's rookie season outclasses Volpe's, and it isn't particularly close.
Volpe earned American League Rookie of the Year consideration for his first campaign as New York's shortstop. He came in eighth place, and fellow AL East shortstop Gunnar Henderson took home the prize. The following year, Rafaela, yet another shortstop, is making a fantastic case for the award.
Rafaela's defensive metrics are questionable, at best, on paper. But the 23-year-old has accomplished a defensive feat not seen for over 100 years. On Aug. 5, Rafaela became the first player since 1901 to play 60-plus games at shortstop and 60-plus games at center field in the same season, and he did it in less than 110 games.
Red Sox Ceddanne Rafaela's rookie season has been better than Anthony Volpe's with a more difficult workload
Rafaela's defensive versatility is nearly unmatched throughout the league, let alone among rookies. The frequent movement contributes to his unimpressive defensive stats, and despite the rough numbers, he's been indispensable for the Red Sox. His athleticism allows him to make Trevor Story-esque plays at short and Jackie Bradley Jr.-like grabs in center field. He's made multiple game-saving plays from diving stops to his latest extra-base hit robbery.
Rafaela's youth showed at the beginning of the season as he switched from center field to shortstop. He missed a fair few throws and bobbled some easy pickups early on, which continue to weigh down his defensive stats. But as he's spent more time in the big leagues, he's leveled off in the error department.
Ceddanne Rafaela makes a running, twisting, turning, into-the-fence catch! pic.twitter.com/Ll9cz2Q2EH
— MLB (@MLB) August 6, 2024
Volpe posted one out above average in his rookie campaign, and Rafaela is down to a negative seven in that category. Volpe has Rafaela beat in terms of defensive consistency, but consistency hasn't been a part of Rafaela's game. Rafaela's defensive stats can be forgiven (to a certain extent) in favor of the eye test for a player who's moved positions as frequently as he has with as little big-league experience as he has.
Now, to the bats. Rafaela is slashing .260/.288/.420 through 109 games and leads all rookies in four categories — he's collected 57 RBI, 102 hits, 56 runs and 165 total bases. He ranks second with 13 homers and 16 steals. He's fanned 105 times and is on pace for fewer strikeouts than Volpe's 2023 campaign, but the Yankee shortstop has him well beaten in walks.
Volpe finished his rookie campaign slashing .209/.283/.383, and while it's yet unclear where Rafaela will finish, his slash will likely be better than that. Rafaela has been one of the Red Sox's most consistent hitters for weeks, and he's batting .284/.314/.474 with five homers in his last 30 games. He's trending in the right direction, while Volpe remained consistent for much of the season.
Volpe and Rafaela are both great players, and as two young, athletic shortstops on rival squads, their careers will likely be compared for years to come. Volpe posted a great offensive turnaround in his second season and is one of the best defensive shortstops in the league.
But in terms of rookie seasons, Rafaela's career seems to be off to a better start. We'll have to see how his sophomore season goes before we can know for sure.