Ceddanne Rafaela’s 308-foot walk-off home run on Wednesday afternoon is the shortest walk-off blast ever recorded in the Statcast era, securing an 11-9 victory for the Boston Red Sox over the Los Angeles Angels. The swing, which came on the first pitch he faced in the bottom of the ninth, lifted the Red Sox to an incredible win. The ball cleared Pesky’s Pole, the iconic right-field fence at Fenway Park, marking a dramatic walk-off two-run homer.
Despite the Angels’ efforts to maintain their lead, the Red Sox turned the tide. In the eighth inning, Rafael Devers’ RBI ground ball tied the game at 9-9 after the Angels had taken a 9-8 lead. The game was a rollercoaster, with the Angels blowing four leads in the series, including a 9-8 deficit. The Red Sox, however, capitalized on the opportunity, with Rafaela’s historic home run sending the crowd into a frenzy. The result was a thrilling win for the Red Sox, who now sit at 30-34, while the Angels fall to 28-33.
Rafaela’s achievement is not only a personal milestone but also a testament to the unique features of Fenway Park. The Pesky’s Pole, named after Johnny Pesky, who hit just 17 career home runs but six of them were around the pole, played a crucial role. The ball traveled just 308 feet, making it the third-shortest home run in Statcast history. The three shortest home runs ever tracked by Statcast have all been at Fenway Park, with Rafaela’s shot being the third-shortest on record. This highlights the park’s peculiar dimensions and the advantage it gives to batters.