A standout spring has earned Ceddanne Rafaela a spot on the Red Sox Opening Day roster for the first time in his burgeoning career.

“He’s very dynamic, athletic, versatile, he’s a good kid, too,” Alex Cora lauded when making the announcement to reporters on Saturday afternoon.

Rafaela has long been considered a future perennial Gold Glove outfielder, but the Sox wanted his bat to somewhat catch up with his stellar defense. The 23-year-old’s improved plate discipline has been on display throughout spring training; he entered Saturday 14-for-51 (.275) with a .896 OPS, six doubles, three home runs (not including the one he hit in last weekend’s Spring Breakout exhibition game), seven runs scored, and eight driven in. Only the White Sox’s Nicky Lopez and Orioles’ Coby Mayo have doubled more this spring. Rafaela is also 2-for-3 in stolen base attempts, has drawn four walks, and struck out 12 times.

Currently ranked the organization’s No. 4 prospect by MLB Pipeline, Rafaela debuted last Aug. 28. The Curaçao native spent most of his big-league time playing center, as well as limited time at shortstop and second base (he was primarily a third baseman and shortstop early in his minor league career). Though he’s spent most of the spring in the outfield – and Cora previously said that if he made the team out of camp, it would be as their centerfielder – he also played second earlier in the week.

Jarren Duran has also officially made his first Opening Day roster, though that was to be expected after Cora named him their leadoff man the week before the first full-squad workout.