NEWS

SCHEDULE STANDINGS SOCIAL ROSTER STATS VIDEOS ODDS

NEWS

SCHEDULE STANDINGS SOCIAL ROSTER STATS VIDEOS

NEWS

SCHEDULE STANDINGS SOCIAL ROSTER STATS VIDEOS ODDS

Impresses in live BP Patino was one of the pitchers that caught manager Kevin Cash's eye during live batting practice Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Patino was lauded by Cash for what the Rays skipper labeled as "constant strike-throwing" during the session, with the right-hander landing just one ball outside the strike zone. Patino is striving to earn a starting rotation spot during spring training while largely relying on his elite fastball and slider, and Cash noted Friday that the young pitcher's commitment to pounding the zone has a chance to eventually make him "special" if he can sustain it over the long haul.

6 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Feels good to begin camp Franco is no longer dealing with the shoulder issue that hindered him in winter ball and feels good to begin spring training, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

Impact Franco was diagnosed with biceps inflammation and shoulder soreness following an injury while playing winter ball, but he wasn't dealing with any structural damage or long-term issues. The Rays should continue to monitor his status early in spring training to prevent any further issues as he resumes baseball activities, but he should have a fairly normal spring as long as he doesn't encounter any setbacks. The league's top prospect will have his preparedness closely monitored while serving as a non-roster invitee during spring training, but he could be on track to make his major-league debut at some point in 2021.

9 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with right knee soreness Choi didn't work out with the Rays on Saturday due to a sore right knee, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Manager Kevin Cash said that Choi's knee issue likely stemmed from "over work" during the first few days of camp, and he'll be limited in the near future. He won't be able to play in Sunday's Grapefruit League opener, but Cash said that he should be fine in the coming days.

9 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

No switch-hitting plans in '21 Choi plans to focus exclusively on hitting from the left side this season after experimenting with switch-hitting during the 2020 campaign, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Impact The South Korean veteran saw all three components of his slash line decline in 2020, so he'll look to return to the form that helped him to a career-high 19 home runs and 63 RBI in 2019, a season during which he solely hit left-handed. Choi reports that he engaged in more heavy lifting than usual this winter since COVID-19 protocols in his native South Korea prevented him from taking any indoor fitness classes during the early part of the offseason.

22 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Focused on improving cutter, curve Fleming focused on improving both his cutter and curveball this offseason and is looking forward to working in multiple roles again if asked, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. "I'm ex...

Impact The southpaw, which manager Kevin Cash remarked Friday "competes as well as anybody in the organization", was impressive working in a starting/bulk-reliever role in 2020, finishing the campaign with a 5-0 record, 2.78 ERA and 1.08 WHIP across seven appearances (five starts). Given the premium Cash places on flexibility with his pitching staff, Fleming is aiming to make himself even more indispensable by enhancing his pitch arsenal and is looking to break camp with a chance at once again serving as a jack-of-all-trades of sorts during the coming season, with potential starting opportunities certainly in play given the turnover of the rotation this offseason.

22 HOURS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Díaz's goal in '21? To be the 'Yandy of 2019' PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Yandy Díaz spent last season in survival mode at the plate. Battling a hamstring injury that forced him to spend all...

1 DAY AGO • MLB.COM

Rays exercising caution with KK (hips) PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Manager Kevin Cash said the Rays are going to “slow-play” center fielder Kevin Kiermaier a bit in the coming days af...

1 DAY AGO • MLB.COM

MLB: Cuban players let themselves be heard via zoom Today via the Tampa Bay Rays zoom, I was able to speak with MLB playoff hero Randy Arozarena. He also happens to be the favorite to win the...

1 DAY AGO • CALLTOTHEPEN.COM

Dealing with hip tightness Manager Kevin Cash said Kiermaier will be limited during the first week of spring training games due to tightness in his hip, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact The 30-year-old indicated only a couple days ago he was entering camp in good health, so it's a new injury for the veteran outfielder. It doesn't appear to be a serious issue, but Kiermaier will take it slow early in camp to help avoid any complications.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Slimmer, quicker than last season Meadows reported to spring training having lost 10-15 pounds in his offseason training program and has caught the eye of manager Kevin Cash, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports. "I got a...

Impact The list of misfortunes and maladies was long for Meadows in 2020 -- he battled COVID-19, a strained oblique and a significant lack of timing with his bat, leading to a forgettable .205/.296/.371 line across 152 plate appearances. The sub-standard numbers were in stark contrast to a 2019 campaign during which he'd slugged a career-best 33 home runs. The 25-year-old emphasizes that feeling athletic and light on his feet in the batter's box is instrumental to his success, and Cash notes he's already seen evidence of such in early batting practice sessions in the form of Meadows being able to reach certain pitches with greater ease than when he was slower and heavier last season.

1 DAY AGO • ROTOWIRE

Slimmer Meadows eager to regain '19 form PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- This offseason, Austin Meadows set out to rediscover the form that made him an American League All-Star in 2019 -- n...

2 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

CF Kiermaier happy to remain with Rays after trade rumors No player followed Tampa Bay's offseason as closely as Kevin Kiermaier, who’s thankful for one potential cost-cutting move the reigning AL c...

2 DAYS AGO • OLEANTIMESHERALD.COM

CF Kiermaier happy to remain with Rays after trade rumors No player followed Tampa Bay’s offseason as closely as Kevin Kiermaier, who’s thankful for one potential cost-cutting move the reigning AL champion Rays didn’t make.

2 DAYS AGO • WASHINGTONTIMES.COM

CF Kiermaier happy to remain with Rays after trade rumors No player followed Tampa Bay’s offseason as closely as Kevin Kiermaier, who’s thankful for one potential cost-cutting...

2 DAYS AGO • USATODAY.COM

CF Kiermaier happy to remain with Rays after trade rumors No player followed Tampa Bay’s offseason as closely as Kevin Kiermaier, who’s thankful for one potential cost-cutting move the reigning AL champion Rays didn’t make

2 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Yoshi steps into spring with 'fresh mind' PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Last year, Yoshi Tsutsugo’s first Spring Training with the Rays was cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He went...

2 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

Excels in first live BP Glasnow was impressive during his first time facing hitters this spring Wednesday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Glasnow threw 29 pitches overall to Ji-Man Choi, Joey Wendle, Yandy Diaz, Austin Meadows, Manuel Margot and Willy Adames, taking a simulated inning break after the first three batters. Glasnow came away particularly pleased with his comfort level and grip when deploying the new cutter/slider he's been working on, and he's looking forward to continuing to tweak it as spring training progresses. Meanwhile, manager Kevin Cash also noted how good the big right-hander's tempo and velocity were during the session, emphasizing Glasnow looked as good as he had during the postseason.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Lowe motivated; Glasnow's 'tremendous' BP PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- As he headed home for the offseason, Brandon Lowe found himself reflecting fondly on the dream-come-true experience...

3 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

Rays’ Brandon Lowe driven by a postseason to forget Extended struggles led to a new winter workout plan designed to amp up the degree of difficulty.

3 DAYS AGO • TAMPABAY.COM

Liberatore out to repay Cards' confidence JUPITER, Fla. -- As Matthew Liberatore tuned into the 2020 postseason, he did so invested in seeing how his former Rays teammates fared in t...

3 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

Is encore in store for Randy? 'Sky's the limit' PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- When we last saw Randy Arozarena, he was -- as Kevin Kiermaier and others often put it -- “the best player on the pl...

3 DAYS AGO • MLB.COM

Tyler Glasnow ‘tremendous’ in first batting practice session Rays Notes | New slider looks and feels good as right-hander seeks to expand his repertoire.

3 DAYS AGO • TAMPABAY.COM

Increased reps at shortstop on tap Brosseau will get increased reps at shortstop during spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Brosseau could begin the season in a depth role and work mainly against left-handed pitchers, but his increased defensive versatility could give him more opportunities to enter games as a pinch hitter or defensive substitution. The utility player appeared in 37 games for the Rays last year, posting a .936 OPS with five home runs and 12 RBI.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Slated to work at third base Lowe will get time at third base during spring training, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Lowe is slated to begin the regular season as the starting second baseman for the Rays, but his increased reps at third base should allow for more in-game defensive flexibility for manager Kevin Cash. The 26-year-old appeared in 56 games during the abbreviated 2020 season, slashing .269/.362/.554 with 14 home runs and 37 RBI.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE