Mike Zunino - Page 23 - MLB News, Rumors, & Updates

Out of lineup Zunino is not starting Friday's game against the Blue Jays.

Impact Zunino hits the bench despite homering in each of the last two games. Michael Perez will start behind the plate in his absence.

AUGUST 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Homers in second straight Zunino went 1-for-3 with a three-run homer and walk in Thursday's 10-5 win over the Yankees.

Impact Zunino extended the Rays' lead to 8-4 with his three-run shot off Luis Avilan in the sixth inning. Although the backstop has an awful .118/.224/.373 slash line, he has at least provided some power with four homers on the campaign.

AUGUST 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Zunino goes deep, Rays sweep Yanks for 1st in AL East The Tampa Bay Rays completed their first sweep at Yankee Stadium in six years and took over first place in the AL East, getting a three-run...

AUGUST 20, 2020 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Zunino goes deep, Rays sweep Yanks for 1st in AL East

The Tampa Bay Rays completed their first sweep at Yankee Stadium in six years and took over first place in the AL East, getting a three-run homer from Mike Zunino in a 10-5 victory...

AUGUST 20, 2020 • Associated Press

Smacks third homer Zunino went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Yankees.

Impact Zunino took Gerrit Cole deep in the third inning to record his third home run of the season. He's been abysmal at the plate to this point, collecting only five hits -- four of which have gone for extra-bases -- across 54 plate appearances. That has led a to a .104/.204/.313 line to go along with six RBI and six runs scored.

AUGUST 20, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Rays beat Yankees again 4-2; Cole's streak intact after ND

Pinch-hitter Mike Brosseau singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning and the streaking Tampa Bay Rays beat the New York Yankees again, taking advantage of a costly erro...

AUGUST 20, 2020 • Associated Press

Not in Tuesday's lineup Zunino will not start Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Zunino sits for the second straight game, with Michael Perez again getting the nod behind the plate. It's hardly a surprise to see Zunino lose playing time, as he's hitting .091/.200/.250 on the season.

AUGUST 18, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Resting Sunday Zunino is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Zunino was behind the plate earlier in the day for the resumption of Saturday's suspended game, so he'll just be getting a breather in what's essentially the equivalent of the second half of a doubleheader. Michael Perez will catch for starting pitcher Yonny Chirinos in the nightcap.

AUGUST 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Friday Zunino is not starting Friday against Toronto, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Zunino began the year at the top of the depth chart behind the plate in Tampa, starting 11 of the team's first 14 games, but his playing time has been understandably decreasing lately as he owns a .504 OPS, a mark right in line with his .544 OPS from last season. He and Michael Perez, who starts Friday, have alternated starts over the last eight contests.

AUGUST 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Contributes to offensive barrage Zunino went 1-for-5 with a home run and four RBI on Thursday against the Red Sox.

Impact Zunino took a Marcus Walden offering yard in sixth inning for a three-run home run, extending the Rays lead to 16-5. It was his second long ball of the season, but first in his last 11 starts. The story on Zunino's shortcomings at the plate remain the same, as he's striking out at a 38 percent clip through 45 plate appearances. Overall, he's hitting .103/.222/.282.

AUGUST 14, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Zunino hits 3-run HR; Rays bash Sox to complete 4-game sweep Hunter Renfroe hit two homers and drove in three runs, Mike Zunino belted a three-run shot over the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park and...

AUGUST 14, 2020 • STARTRIBUNE.COM

Zunino hits 3-run HR; Rays bash Sox to complete 4-game sweep

Hunter Renfroe belted two homers and drove in three runs, Mike Zunino hit a three-run shot over the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park and the Rays spoiled Kyle Hart's major-leag...

AUGUST 14, 2020 • Associated Press

Sitting Wednesday Zunino is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Red Sox, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Zunino will sit after going 0-for-3 with a walk, two strikeouts and a run scored in Tuesday's win. In his stead, Michael Perez is starting behind the plate and hitting ninth.

AUGUST 12, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Monday's lineup Zunino isn't starting Monday against the Red Sox.

Impact Zunino has hit just .097/.222/.226 with a solo home run and 14 strikeouts over 13 games this season, and he'll sit for the second time in the past three games. Michael Perez will start at catcher Monday and bat ninth.

AUGUST 10, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

On bench for Game 2 Zunino isn't in the lineup for the second game of Saturday's doubleheader against the Yankees.

Impact After recording a hit and scoring a run in the afternoon game Saturday, Zunino will retreat to the bench. Michael Perez will start behind the dish and bat ninth.

AUGUST 8, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Zunino is not in the lineup Tuesday against the Red Sox, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Zunino is the clear starter behind the plate for the Rays this season, but, like all catchers, he won't start every day. He'll sit in favor of Michael Perez for just the third time in the season's first 11 games Tuesday.

AUGUST 4, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Fried dominates, retires first 14, as Braves edge Rays 2-1

Max Fried retired Tampa Bay’s first 14 batters and combined with three relievers on a four-hitter as the Atlanta Braves beat the Rays 2-1

JULY 31, 2020 • Associated Press

Sitting Tuesday Zunino is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game against Atlanta, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact Zunino sits for the second time in five games so far this season. Michael Perez will fill in for him behind the plate.

JULY 28, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Kicks off rout Monday Zunino went 1-for-2 with a solo home run and a second run scored in Monday's 14-5 win over Atlanta.

Impact His third-inning blast off Mike Foltynewicz got the Rays offense rolling and gave Zunino his first long ball of the year. The 29-year-old catcher has started three of four games so far but has yet to play all nine innings in any of them, and the team's willingness to sub him out could end up costing Zunino some counting-stat production by the end of the season.

JULY 27, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Joins 40-man roster Smith was added to the Rays' 40-man roster Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Smith has been competing for a potential third catcher spot throughout camp, and he was added to the 40-man roster after Colin Poche (elbow) was placed on the 45-day injured list. The 32-year-old will begin the season as Tampa Bay's third catcher behind Mike Zunino and Michael Perez, per Juan Toribio of MLB.com.

JULY 21, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

AL East Preview Capsules

JULY 17, 2020 • Associated Press

Extra work paying off Zunino hit two home runs in a simulated game Wednesday and has been putting in extra work in the batting cages during summer camp ahead of what he hopes will be a bounce-back seaso...

Impact The slugging backstop has plenty of room for improvement after a forgettable season in 2019 that included a .165/.232/.312 line and the lowest barrel percentage (11.6), average exit velocity (88.6 mph) and expected batting average (.194) since his rookie campaign. Zunino reconfigured his swing during spring training with the help of Mottola and assistant hitting coach Ozzie Timmons by adjusting his body positioning and base, and he continued working on integrating those tweaks while play was suspended. Zunino's two no-doubt homers Wednesday came off Sean Gilmartin and Shane McClanahan and provided a glimpse of the upside manager Kevin Cash sees in the veteran catcher. "That's a great sign," said Cash. "He can be as dangerous as anybody in our lineup. He has unbelievable strength and bat speed that can flip balls out. We have a lot of guys that are trending in the right direction, and at the right time."

JULY 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Showing well with bat in camp Zunino hit two home runs in a simulated game Wednesday and has been putting in extra work in the batting cages during summer camp ahead of what he hopes will be a bounce-back seaso...

Impact The slugging backstop has plenty of room for improvement after a forgettable season in 2019 that included a .165/.232/.312 line and the lowest barrel percentage (11.6), average exit velocity (88.6 mph) and expected batting average (.194) since his rookie campaign. Zunino reconfigured his swing during spring training with the help of hitting coach Chad Mottola and assistant hitting coach Ozzie Timmons by adjusting his body positioning and base, and he continued working on integrating those tweaks while play was suspended. Zunino's two no-doubt homers Wednesday came off Sean Gilmartin and Shane McClanahan and provided a glimpse of the upside manager Kevin sees in the veteran catcher. "That's a great sign," said Cash. "He can be as dangerous as anybody in our lineup. He has unbelievable strength and bat speed that can flip balls out. We have a lot of guys that are trending in the right direction, and at the right time."

JULY 16, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

Tampa Bay Rays: Mike Zunino hits two homers in simulated game Tampa Bay Rays News: Mike Zunino is hoping to improve upon his .165 average last season. Today, he blasted two homers in a simulated game. T...

JULY 15, 2020 • RAYSCOLOREDGLASSES.COM

Shines in Sunday sim game McClanahan was impressive in Sunday's simulated game while facing the foursome of Yandy Diaz, Hunter Renfroe, Mike Brosseau and Joey Wendle, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Impact The hard-throwing southpaw threw 10 of his 15 pitches for strikes and recorded a swinging strikeout of Wendle while keeping the velocity on his four-seam fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s. McClanahan received ample praise from both catcher Mike Zunino and manager Kevin Cash, with the latter noting McClanahan's stuff "would play in any league and in any inning" when referencing the possibility of the 23-year-old's chances of working as either a starter or reliever at some point this coming regular season. The path to such an opportunity isn't very clear at the moment with the team's stockpile of arms healthy, but there is apparently at least some chance McClanahan sees regular-season action this coming season despite not yet having pitched above Double-A ball.

JULY 13, 2020 • ROTOWIRE

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Zunino goes deep, Rays sweep Yanks for 1st in AL East

Rays beat Yankees again 4-2; Cole's streak intact after ND

Zunino hits 3-run HR; Rays bash Sox to complete 4-game sweep

Fried dominates, retires first 14, as Braves edge Rays 2-1

AL East Preview Capsules