WooSox fans won’t only get a chance to feast their eyes on new food items at Polar Park this week — but also on one of the top Red Sox prospects who recently earned a promotion to Worcester.
Ceddanne Rafaela, who was called up from Double-A Portland on June 28, will make his Polar Park debut on Tuesday to open up a six-game homestand with the Syracuse Mets.
In an interview with the T&G on Friday, WooSox president and principal owner Larry Lucchino said it was not only exciting times around Polar Park due to recent second-half initiatives (which include brand new items on a growing menu) – but also because of the product on the field with the Triple-A club.
“There’s an old saying we had at the Orioles many years ago: ‘These are exciting times and you have to be there’ and I think these are exciting times at the ballpark with the team,” Lucchino said. “We have a near murderers’ row of a lineup with the offensive players. It’s a fun team to watch with the young players coming up filling the roster at the Red Sox level, and (at the) Triple-A level we have something to show our fans.”
The addition of the 22-year-old Rafaela — along with low-priced kids’ hot dogs, mac and cheese sandwiches, and low-priced beer options (including beer bats) — gives the WooSox and Polar Park a new look heading into the second half.
Rafaela, who is rated as the Red Sox’ No. 3 prospect by both Baseball America and MLB.com, is 3-for-16 with a home run and a highlight catch in four games for the WooSox.
WooSox player gives bat to kid outside of his house in Sterling
As Ryan Fitzgerald drove to get raw milk from Maplebrook Farmstead on May 1, the WooSox utilityman noticed a kid swinging a baseball bat in his front yard.
After debating whether he should stop to talk to the young baseball player or not, Fitzgerald finally rolled down the window of his car and chatted with 13-year-old Tyler Beverage of Sterling. Following a brief interaction, Fitzgerald grabbed a personalized baseball bat from his trunk to hand over to Beverage and told the teenager to reach out via Instagram so Fitzgerald could spend some time with the young fan at an upcoming WooSox game at Polar Park.
“Keep swinging it kid,” said Fitzgerald as his girlfriend recorded the interaction on her cell phone from the passenger seat.
On Wednesday, Beverage and his family will watch Fitzgerald and the WooSox take on the Mets from Section 104 at Polar Park.
“I messaged Ryan and told him about how I’m going to the game and he replied by asking me to stick around after the game,” Beverage said on Sunday. “I’m really excited about going to the game!”
Top Sox prospects named to All-Star Futures Game
Last Wednesday, WooSox pitcher Shane Drohan was selected to represent the Red Sox in the 2023 All-Star Futures Game.
The left-hander is 7-2 with a 3.31 ERA and 69 strikeouts across 14 starts for Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester this year but will skip the Futures Game out of precaution after he left his last start with a cramp.
Replacing Drohan will be Portland Sea Dogs pitcher Luis Guerrero, who will join other Sox prospects Marcelo Mayer and Nick Yorke in Seattle on July 8.
What’s on tap at Polar Park for July 4th week?
With Bobby Dalbec back in Worcester following a brief call-up to the Red Sox (which included one at-bat) last week, the WooSox hope to see more fireworks at the plate from their rich slugger this week.
Fans will see a fireworks celebration after the game on Tuesday and are welcome to bring their dogs to Polar Park for Woof Woof Wednesday night. On Thursday, there will be a guest appearance from Oil Can Boyd before Rich Garcés makes a special appearance on Saturday.
— Contact Tommy Cassell at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @tommycassell44.
This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Worcester Red Sox open up second half with changes on and off the field