TAYLOR WALLS NEWS

Zunino homers against former team as Rays top M's 4-3

Mike Zunino hit a three-run homer against his former team, Shane McClanahan held Seattle hitless into the fifth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Mariners 4-3 for their fourth...

MAY 6, 2022 • Associated Press

Polanco drives in 4, Twins beat Rays 9-3 for ninth win in 10

Jorge Polanco drove in four runs with a pair of doubles, Carlos Correa had his fourth straight multi-hit game and the Minnesota Twins beat the Tampa Bay Rays 9-3

MAY 1, 2022 • Associated Press

Opportunities likely to increase Walls will start at shortstop and bat sixth in Sunday's game against the Twins.

Impact He'll be filling at shortstop for the first time since April 18 after Wander Franco was a late scratch from the lineup due to right hamstring tightness. Even if Franco's injury results in only a one-game absence, Walls is expected to see his starting opportunities grow over the next week after Ji-Man Choi (elbow) was placed on the injured list Sunday. While Choi is out of commission, Yandy Diaz is expected to see more work at first base, which should open up more reps at the hot corner for Walls.

MAY 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Swipes fourth base Walls went 0-for-1 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored Friday against the Twins.

Impact Walls has started three consecutive games at third base with Ji-Man Choi (elbow) sidelined, which has in turn shifted Yandy Diaz to first base. He has only one hit in 10 plate appearances in that span, though he's also earned three free passes. On Friday, Walls led off the second inning with a walk and proceeded to steal second base -- his fourth swipe of the season. Once Choi is able to retake the field, Walls will likely return to a super-utility role along the Rays' infield.

APRIL 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Rasmussen, Rays end Mariners' four-game winning streak 3-2

Drew Rasmussen struck out nine in six shutout innings, Kevin Kiermaier hit a two-run home run and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Seattle 3-2, ending the Mariners’ four-game winning streak

APRIL 28, 2022 • Associated Press

On bench versus righty Walls is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Mariners, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Walls had seen an uptick in playing time recently with starts in five of the Rays' previous six games, but he'll likely move into more of a utility role following corner infielder Yandy Diaz's return Sunday from the COVID-19 injured list. With Diaz and Wander Franco typically starting on the left side of the infield when the Rays oppose right-handed pitching, the righty-hitting Walls will likely see most of his opportunities against left-handed pitching. On those occasions, Diaz typically moves across the diamond to replace the lefty-hitting Ji-Man Choi at first base.

APRIL 26, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Kiermaier, Rays rally for wild 3-2 win against Red Sox

Kevin Kiermaier capped Tampa Bay’s three-run 10th inning with a game-ending homer, and the Rays beat the Boston Red Sox 3-2 after losing their bid for a combined no-hitter in the t...

APRIL 24, 2022 • Associated Press

Steals another base Walls went 2-for-3 with a stolen base Wednesday against the Cubs.

Impact Walls has earned starts in four of the last five games, and he has delivered multiple hits in each of the last two. After leading off the fourth inning with a base knock, Walls stole second base but was ultimately stranded. Walls has made multiple appearances at second and third base as well as shortstop early this season, and his ability to play across the infield could help him find significant playing time despite not having a regular spot in the lineup.

APRIL 21, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Suzuki extends hitting streak to 9, Cubs beat cold Rays 4-2

Rookie Seiya Suzuki extended his hitting streak to nine games, tying Akinori Iwamura for the longest by a Japanese-born player at the start of a major league career, and the Chicag...

APRIL 19, 2022 • Associated Press

Swipes first bag Walls went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts and a stolen base Saturday against the White Sox.

Impact Walls drew the start at shortstop Saturday, as Wander Franco was in the lineup as the designated hitter. He was hit by a pitch in his opening plate appearance and subsequently swiped second base to record his first steal of the campaign. That was the only good news for Walls in the contest, as he struck out in his remaining three at-bats -- including for the final out of the game.

APRIL 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Abreu homers, Hendriks escapes in 9th as White Sox beat Rays

José Abreu homered for the first time this season, closer Liam Hendriks left the bases loaded in the ninth inning and the Chicago White Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 3-2

APRIL 16, 2022 • Associated Press

Picks up start versus lefty Walls will start at third base and bat ninth in Thursday's game against the Athletics, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Walls will pick up his third start in four games, but he still looks to be a short-side platoon player who plays only occasionally against right-handers. With southpaw Cole Irvin on the mound for Oakland on Thursday, Walls will enter the lineup as an indirect replacement for the lefty-hitting Ji-Man Choi.

APRIL 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Out again Sunday Walls is not in the lineup Sunday against the Orioles.

Impact Walls has been out of the lineup for two of the team's first three games of the season. It appears that his primary competition for playing time will come from Yandy Diaz and Harold Ramirez, both of whom are starting Sunday.

APRIL 10, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Opening Day Walls will be on the bench for Friday's game against the Orioles, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Walls is a switch hitter who performed nearly identically against righties and lefties in his 54-game debut last year. He'll hit the bench here against lefty John Means, with Yandy Diaz sliding to third base and Harold Ramirez starting at first, though it's too early to say whether that will be the Rays' default plan against every southpaw.

APRIL 8, 2022 • ROTOWIRE

Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls sides with Fla. Gov Ron DeSantis on controversial transgender issue Taylor Walls of the Tampa Bay Rays said he agreed with Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis' take that transgender athletes should be excluded from women'...

MARCH 24, 2022 • USATODAY.COM

Rays' Taylor Walls sides with DeSantis on transgender athlete issue PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — Rays infielder Taylor Walls said he wasn’t looking to become the center of a political controversy on social media —...

MARCH 23, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM

Walls preparing to step up at (fill in the blank) FORT MYERS, Fla. -- When the Rays traded Joey Wendle to the Marlins on Nov. 30, two competing thoughts raced through Taylor Walls ’ mind. Fi...

MARCH 20, 2022 • MLB.COM

Rays rookie INF Wander Franco returns from hamstring injury

Tampa Bay Rays rookie Wander Franco has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list after missing two weeks with a right hamstring injury

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • Associated Press

Heads to minors The Rays optioned Walls to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Walls hit .205 with no extra-base hits and two RBI after being called up at the start of September, and now he loses his roster spot as Wander Franco (hamstring) returns from the injured list. Barring other injuries on the big-league roster, it's unlikely Walls gets called up again this year, and a spot on Tampa Bay's ALDS roster seems similarly unrealistic.

SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Kiermaier hit after scouting report flap; Rays to playoffs

Kevin Kiermaier was hit by a pitch after scooping up a Toronto scouting report two days earlier, and the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a postseason berth with a 7-1 victory over the Blue...

SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 • Associated Press

Takes seat Tuesday Walls is not starting Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact The infielder singled and scored while starting at shortstop in Monday's win, but he'll retreat back to the bench for Game 2 of the series. Joey Wendle draws the start at shortstop while Yandy Diaz mans the hot corner Tuesday.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Singles in return to action Walls (illness) went 1-for-4 with a run during a win over the Blue Jays on Monday in his return from a one-game absence.

Impact The rookie also struck out on all three occasions in which he made an out, underscoring how much of a work in progress he still is against big-league arms. Walls hasn't generated an extra-base hit in his last 19 games at the major-league level, either, but the reps he's logging against the highest caliber of pitching is likely to pay off down the line.

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Shane Baz wins MLB debut, Rays cut Blue Jays' wild-card lead

Shane Baz pitched two-hit ball for five innings to win his major league debut and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays cut Toronto’s lead in the wild-card chase, holding off the Blue...

SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • Associated Press

Back in action Walls (illness) will start Monday's game against Toronto, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Walls was scratched Saturday due to illness and didn't play in Sunday's contest, but his illness evidently wasn't a particularly severe one, as he's already set to return to action. He'll bat eighth and play shortstop.

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ray scheduled to start for Blue Jays at Rays

The Blue Jays will start Robbie Ray on Monday while the Rays are expected to counter with Shane Baz

SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • Associated Press