Up until now he had been playing SS, he played short stop before he played CF, and even as he came up in the minor leagues he still played SS once a week.
They're not messing with his development by having him play SS 3-4 times a week instead of 1-2. Which odddly enough NOW seems to a be a very effing stupid time to STOP playing Rafaela at SS.
They were willing to play him at 2B this year, this literally makes zero sense.
They can still view him as their long term CF and play him as a starting SS temporarily. It's really the only option they have.
Unless you want to watch David Hamilton bounce balls to 1B all year.
This team is built on ground ball pitching, things will be ugly if they keep that hole up the middle, I promise.