BOSTON (DA) — Curaçao-born center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela is expected to be activated from the injured list Wednesday, giving the Boston Red Sox back their All-Star outfielder for the final five games of the regular season.
Rafaela has been sidelined with a right quadriceps strain. Boston placed him on the 10-day injured list Sept. 6, retroactive to Sept. 3, after the injury kept him out of the lineup.
The 26-year-old began working with Triple-A Worcester last week but did not appear in a minor league rehabilitation game. His preparation instead included hitting against a Trajekt pitching machine as he worked toward a return.
Boston now expects Rafaela to be ready for game action as the Red Sox use the remainder of the regular season to prepare for the postseason.
Rafaela was batting .282 with 16 home runs, 70 RBIs, 67 runs scored and 17 stolen bases before going on the injured list. He had appeared in 135 games and made 130 starts in center field.
The Willemstad native earned his first career MLB All-Star selection this season, adding another milestone to a year in which he has established himself as a key part of Boston’s lineup and defense.
His return would also give Rafaela an opportunity to regain his timing before the Red Sox begin postseason play next week.