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Compiled and Copyright © 1997-2023 by Marco Stoovelaar

(Story by Marco Stoovelaar) Spring Training underway; Rafaela and Bogaerts first to play Nederlands FORT MYERS, Florida / PEORIA, Arizona (USA) - Major League Spring Training opened on February 13 and 14. On Friday (February 24), the first three exhibition games were played and outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela and short stop Xander Bogaerts were the first two Dutch players to come into action. On Saturday, there are seventeen games scheduled. Rafaela and Bogaerts are two of the nine Dutch players, who were in Major League Spring Training when it opened ten days ago. The others are infielder Ozzie Albies (Atlanta Braves), closer Kenley Jansen (Boston Red Sox), infielder Carter Kieboom (Washington Nationals), outfielder Richie Palacios (Cleveland Guardinas), pitcher Sem Robberse (Toronto Blue Jays), infielder Jonathan Schoop (Detroit Tigers) and catcher Chadwick Tromp (Atlanta Braves). All are on the 40-man rosters of their respective club. Except for Sem Robberse. He was invited for Spring Training as a non-roster player on January 30. Last season, the righthander was 4-7 with a 3.23 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 111 1/3 inning for two teams (Single-A, Double-A). The first games in the exhibition seasons in the Cactus League (Arizona) and Grapefruit League (Florida) are scheduled earlier than normal. That has probably to do with the World Baseball Classic, which opens on March 8. During the Classic, several Major League-players will represent their country in the global event. Normally, regular players often don't play (or some innings) in the first games of the exhibition season. They see more action when the new season approaches. But on Friday, many regulars were in the starting line-ups. (February 24)

At JetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Boston Red Sox was the first Major League-team to come into action. The team traditionally opened against the team of the Northeastern University, which is located in Boston. Boston rallied for five runs in the first inning against Huskies and won 5-3 in the 6½ inning game. In the top of the fourth inning, Curaçao-born Ceddanne Rafaela was inserted as new centerfielder for Boston, replacing Jarren Duran. In the bottom of the fourth, Rafaela got his first at bat and flied out. He then walked with two outs in the sixth inning and stole second base, but was left behind. The 22-year old Rafaela is considered one of the top-talent in the Boston-organization. Last season, Rafaela, who is listed as third baseman, batted .299 for two teams in the Minor League. He collected 144 basehits, including 21 homeruns (and 32 doubles and ten triples), scored 82 runs and batted in 86, while stealing 28 bases. Rafaela played in 45 games in Single-A for Greenville Drive and in 71 games in Double-A for Portland Sea Dogs. Rafaela also played in the Futures Game last year. Last November, Rafaela was put on the 40-man roster of Boston Red Sox.

At Peoria Stadium in Peoria, Xander Bogaerts was the lead-off hitter and short stop for his new team San Diego Padres in a home-game against Seattle Mariners. San Diego lost the game with a 3-2 score. Seattle scored all three runs with two outs in the top of the fourth inning. All were unearned, as they were scored after leftfielder Juan Soto dropped a pop-fly in short leftfield. Last season, Soto mostly played in rightfield, while Jurickson Profar mostly was the leftfielder. However, Profar was a Free Agent after the season and he still is. In his first at bat for San Diego in the bottom of the first inning, Bogaerts drove the ball deep into centerfield, but there, the line drive was caught just before the fence by centerfielder Julio Rodriguez. In the third inning, Bogaerts struckout. He was then replaced in the top of the fifth inning by rookie (and non-roster player) Jackson Merrill, who would hit 3-for-3. Last season, the 19-year old Merrill played in Rookie League and Single-A for San Diego. Coming month, the Aruban-born Bogaerts will play for the Netherlands during the World Baseball Classic. As will Profar.

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