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<\/p>\nWhen infielder Marcelo Mayer landed on the injured list July 25, it had a trickle-down effect on the rest of the Boston Red Sox roster, particularly for two of the club\u2019s outfielders.<\/p>\n
In Mayer\u2019s absence, Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran have stepped up, sliding out of their natural positions this season, to fill holes so the team isn\u2019t derailed by another tough injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think that\u2019s super beneficial for us to have that versatility,\u201d outfielder coach Kyle Hudson said. \u201cBeing able to do that and interchange helps us out.\u201d<\/p>\n
At the time of his right wrist injury, Mayer had been playing second base, but in his absence, Rafaela has seen increased playing time at second, moving from center field where he\u2019s tied for third in the majors among outfielders with 16 defensive runs saved.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt sucks because he\u2019s the best defensive center fielder in the big leagues, but right now we need him to play second more than we actually wanted to,\u201d manager Alex Cora said. \u201cHe\u2019s willing to do it. He\u2019s all about winning.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s been a jigsaw puzzle of a roster this season for Cora, but it\u2019s been working, as the team remains squarely in contention for a postseason spot with at least one player out of his natural position on a near-nightly basis.<\/p>\n
Rafaela came up as an infielder and transitioned to the outfield, where he\u2019s put on a Gold Glove-caliber display this season. Though his infield instincts are still there, it\u2019s taken a few games to knock off the rust.<\/p>\n
Rafaela had started three games at second before Mayer\u2019s injury, all in early July, as a way to get his bat into the lineup amid a white-hot streak at the plate. But since Mayer\u2019s injury, he\u2019s seen more frequent time there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe more I play, the more comfortable I get,\u201d Rafaela said. \u201cAt first, it wasn\u2019t easy because this spring I didn\u2019t touch an infield glove until I played second halfway through the year. But the more games I\u2019m starting to get this year at second under my belt, it\u2019s helping build my confidence.\u201d<\/p>\n
The action is naturally much quicker in the infield with Rafaela on top of the ball, and though it would seem like a major challenge to move between center and second as frequently as he has, Rafaela has been almost unfazed. Ahead of each play, he reminds himself to stay low, whereas in the outfield he needs to be more mobile to quickly track a ball.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re in a unique situation with Rafa that he doesn\u2019t really need a lot of work at second base and he doesn\u2019t need a lot of work in the outfield,\u201d Hudson said. \u201cWe\u2019re confident putting him at second base even if he hasn\u2019t worked at second base for the last week or whatever it is. I think it\u2019s more about managing the mindset of staying ready, be ready for this situation or this play in the game.\u201d<\/p>\n
One of those plays came in the series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers in late July. Rafaela caught a hard liner with one out and sprawled to the second-base bag to double off the runner in a tight game, helping the Red Sox to a key victory.<\/p>\n
\ufeff<\/p>\n
\u201cHis instincts are off the charts,\u201d Cora said. \u201cIt\u2019s a joy watching him play defense at center, at second, at short. He\u2019s that good.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, on days when Rafaela shifts from center to second, Duran shifts from left field to center.<\/p>\n
For Duran, the move to center is one he actually prefers, returning to a position at which he\u2019s more comfortable, but one he\u2019d ceded to Rafaela because the latter is that much better defensively. Duran is no slouch in center, though, having finished as a Gold Glove finalist at the position last season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m not going to say it\u2019s easy because nowhere is easy,\u201d Duran said. \u201cBut it\u2019s a little easier to see the ball off the bat in center field than it is for me in a corner, especially at Fenway, where I\u2019m the closest left field to the hitter in the league.\u201d<\/p>\n
Duran noted his instincts in left have been less sharp this season as he\u2019s had difficulty at times reading the backspin on the ball from the left-field angle. He\u2019s still posted 5 DRS between center and left, but part of his issue in left has been overthinking his reads.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really find out how fast your brain can work when you try and trust your first step and a million scenarios run through your head before you even go after the ball,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Jarren Duran is no slouch in the outfield, either, having posted 5 DRS this season. (Brian Fluharty \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\u201cLast year, I played center and had that mentality of like, I\u2019m just gonna go after every single ball like it was mine,\u201d he added. \u201cI\u2019ve definitely gotten passive this year in left.\u201d<\/p>\n
The moving parts have caused a little madness, but it\u2019s working for now. As for Mayer, he\u2019s been building back strength in his wrist after an anti-inflammatory shot Aug. 2. He opted for the shot instead of surgery to try to get back as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
Until then, Rafaela will move to a less comfortable position at second and Duran will slide to a more comfortable spot in center, but both players are willing to do what it takes whenever it is needed to keep the team rolling.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just play whatever they need me,\u201d Rafaela said. \u201cI\u2019m open. I really just want to win.\u201d<\/p>\n
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