The Boston Red Sox's second-year man had a surge late in the first half of the season, making him a legitimate All-Star snub. But since returning from the All-Star break, and coinciding with the team's decision to play him at second base more often than his natural position of center field, he's been mired in a slump.

Rafaela has struggled at the plate for about a month, a steep falloff coinciding with when he started bouncing between second base and center field.