As All-Stars gather, Red Sox’ Ceddanne Rafaela has a big fan in Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong
PHILADELPHIA — Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong has become one of the faces of baseball over the last two seasons.
The 24-year-old hits for average and power, steals bases at will, and plays Gold Glove defense. PCA, as he’s known, also isn’t afraid to show some personality on the field.
So who is his favorite player?
“Ceddanne Rafaela,” Crow-Armstrong said on Monday as the All-Stars gathered at Citizens Bank Park ahead of Tuesday night’s Midsummer Classic.
“I’m a huge fan of anybody who can play multiple positions,” Crow-Armstrong said of the Red Sox center fielder. “But then you add in the fact that he’s a Gold Glover and there’s nothing to dislike about Ceddanne’s game. I like playing against him, and I like watching him.”
The admiration is mutual. Rafaela and Crow-Armstrong spent some time together when they arrived here on Sunday night. A more extensive conversation took place on Monday.
For the 25-year-old Rafaela, that’s been the fun part of the experience.
“Just being around these guys, so many good players. It’s great,” he said. “I saw PCA [on Sunday], and he said, ‘Hey, how are you? It’s my favorite player.’ And I told him, ‘You’re mine, too.’ He’s a great player and a great person, and it’s great to have a chat with him.”
Through Sunday, Andy Pages of the Dodgers leads all center fielders with 17 defensive runs saved. Rafaela has 15, and Crow-Armstrong 12. No other player has more than six.
“Ceddanne gets a great jump on the ball,” Crow-Armstrong said. “The way that he closes on baseballs is pretty impressive. There are very few players who do it better than him. Maybe Daulton Varsho [of the Blue Jays] on balls over his head.”
The brothers Contreras
Over twenty sets of brothers have been All-Stars. William and Willson Contreras were National League teammates (and starters) in 2022. They’ll be on different sides on Tuesday.
The Brewers catcher and Red Sox first baseman also helped Venezuela win the World Baseball Classic in March.
“It’s amazing. It’s amazing,” William said. “This year has been full of emotions. We spent a lot of time in the clubhouse for Venezuela, and now we’re here. It’s a dream coming true again. This is our second time. Hopefully, we can do it again.
“We don’t take anything for granted, but also happy for my mom and dad to make it here for the All-Star Game, and I’m happy for them to see their sons having success.”
William, 28, suggested that Willson, 34, might only play a few more seasons. He is signed through 2027 with the Red Sox holding a $20 million option for 2028. There’s a $7.5 million buyout.
Red Sox center fielder Dom DiMaggio and his older brother, Yankees center fielder Joe DiMaggio, were together on six American League All-Star teams from 1941-51 and started together in 1949.
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Sox teammates (and brothers) Rick and Wes Ferrell were All-Stars in 1937, but were traded to the Senators on June 11 and represented Washington in the game.
Now batting for the American League
Ben Rice will hit seventh for the American League on Tuesday night. The Yankees first baseman is hitting .279 for New York with 68 RBIs and a .971 OPS through 91 games.
The Cohasset native was a 12th-round pick of the Yankees out of Dartmouth in 2021 despite having played only 30 college games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rice said it was his parents, Dan and Sophie, who gave him the confidence to reach the major leagues.
“It was never even a question in my mind that I could be a big-league baseball player,” he said. “That was just the kind of self-belief, self-confidence that they instilled in us as a family.
“I look back on it now and even though I ended up going to a college that isn’t known for, you know, producing big leaguer after big leaguer. I never really thought that I was going to do anything other than play baseball.”
Rice was named the American League Player of the Week on Monday. He was 11 for 26 with five home runs, a triple, four walks, and 12 RBIs.
Yankees teammate Cam Schlittler is on the American League roster but decided against pitching. The 25-year-old played at Walpole High and Northeastern before the Yankees took him in the seventh round of the 2022 draft.
“It’s great being here and enjoying the time with my family and my teammates at the ballpark,” Schlittler said. “It’s going to be fun to be surrounded by these guys, be in that clubhouse and increase the brotherhood.”
The velocity gang
Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman posed for a photo during the workout with Padres closer Mason Miller and Brewers starter Jacob Misiorowski. Miller averages 101.3 miles per hour on his four-seam fastball, Misiorowski 100.5, and Chapman 96.9 at the age of 38.
“I think the work ethic and the work that I do has allowed me to be here in the league for a long time,” Chapman, a nine-time All-Star, said via a translator.
“I’ve been able to develop my secondary pitches even more, and also the command on all my pitches has been even better as my career goes on.”
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