TAYLOR WALLS NEWS

Not starting Sunday Walls (illness) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Walls was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to an illness, and he'll remain on the bench for Sunday's contest. The 25-year-old is apparently dealing with a non-COVID-19 illness and should be considered day-to-day. Joey Wendel will remain at shortstop while Yandy Diaz starts at the hot corner.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

McClanahan expected to start for Tampa Bay against Detroit

The Rays will roll out Shane McClanahan to the mound Sunday and the Tigers will give Wily Peralta the start

SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • Associated Press

Candelario and Garneau homer, Tigers beat Rays 4-3

Jeimer Candelario and Dustin Garneau homered as the Detroit Tigers beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 4-3

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • Associated Press

Scratched with illness Walls was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers due to illness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Walls hasn't been placed on the COVID-19 injured list, so there's yet to be any indication that this is anything other than a normal sickness. Joey Wendle will take over at shortstop.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Rays place CF Kevin Kiermaier on COVID-19 related IL

The AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays placed center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on the COVID-19 related IL due to general illness symptoms and selected the contract of right-hander Joey K...

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • Associated Press

On base thrice in win Walls went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run in an extra-inning win over the Tigers on Friday.

Impact The rookie was able to make an impact through some solid plate discipline, reaching safely for the fifth time in his last six major-league starts. Walls boasts a .385 on-base percentage that's largely the byproduct of a 19.2 percent walk rate over his last eight games, a sample that also includes a cameo as a defensive replacement where he didn't log a plate appearance and a hitless pinch-hit at-bat.

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Phillips homers in 10th as Rays rally to beat Tigers 7-4

Brett Phillips hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays came back from a three-run deficit in the ninth to beat the Detroit Tigers 7-4

SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • Associated Press

Takes seat Thursday Walls isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports.

Impact Walls went 1-for-3 with a run and a strikeout Wednesday but will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Joey Wendle will shift to shortstop while Yandy Diaz starts at third base.

SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Tuesday Walls is not starting Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Walls has gone 2-for-9 with three walks, a run scored and a stolen base while starting the previous three games after being recalled Saturday. Joey Wendle shifts to shortstop Tuesday as Yandy Diaz slots in at the hot corner.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Hot in first two games back Walls, who went 0-for-3 with two walks in an extra-innings loss to the Tigers on Sunday, is 2-for-6 with three base on balls, a stolen base and a run in his first two games since b...

Impact Walls was recalled from the Bulls prior to Saturday's game versus Detroit, a 7-2 win for the Rays in which he went 2-for-3 with a walk, a steal and a run while starting at shortstop for Wander Franco (hamstring). Walls still carries just a .209/.316/.306 slash line in the majors this season, but his diverse production over the small weekend sample offers some hope that he may be starting to get a better handle on big-league arms. He should be set for steady starting opportunities while Franco remains sidelined.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Joey Wendle, Dietrich Enns lead Rays to 7-2 win over Tigers

Joey Wendle tripled and homered, 30-year-old Dietrich Enns won for the first time in the major leagues and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Detroit Tigers 7-2 on Saturday

SEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • Associated Press

Up to replace Franco Walls was recalled from Triple-A Durham prior to Saturday's game against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Wander Franco (hamstring strain) will likely miss at least a couple weeks, so Walls should play pretty regularly at shortstop in the short term. He is slashing .255/.389/.471 with eight home runs and nine steals in 45 games at Triple-A, but that success has not carried over in the majors, where he is slashing .203/.301/.305 in 147 plate appearances.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Cruz, 41, oldest to hit 3O HRs in year, Rays bop Bosox 12-7

Nelson Cruz homered twice and, at 41 years old, became the oldest player in major league history to hit 30 home runs in a season, powering the Tampa Bay Rays past the Boston Red So...

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • Associated Press

Sent back to minors Walls was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

Impact Walls had been back with the big-league squad since the start of September but went just 2-for-15 at the plate in five games, dropping his season slash line to .203/.301/.305 across 147 plate appearances. He'll head to the minors as the Rays recall reliever Louis Head.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Quiet in first two games back Walls is 1-for-6 with two strikeouts in his first two games since being promoted from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Impact Walls first taste of big-league action came earlier this season, when he posted a .200/.311/.305 slash line with with eight doubles, a home run, 13 RBI and three stolen bases across 38 games. The rookie will apparently have the benefit of further honing his craft throughout September, so he should have a solid amount of opportunities to overcome the slow start to his latest big-league stint.

SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Duran has go-ahead single in the 9th, Red Sox beat Rays 3-2

Jarren Duran had a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth and the COVID-19 impacted Boston Red Sox stopped the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays’ nine-game winning streak with a 3-2 vict...

SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • Associated Press

Rays call up slick-fielding infielder Taylor Walls Walls will provide depth and extraordinary defense; reliever David Robertson also was added.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • TAMPABAY.COM

Called up by Tampa Bay Walls was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Walls got off to a slow start after the All-Star break and went 1-for-15 with a double, an RBI and two walks across six games. However, he fared slightly better since returning to the minors in late July, as he slashed .224/.355/.469 with six homers, 26 runs, 15 RBI and six stolen bases across 29 games. Walls will slot into a backup role at shortstop behind Wander Franco.

SEPTEMBER 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Meadows hits 2 homers, Rays win 11th in row over Indians

Austin Meadows hit a pair of two-run homers, Ji-Man Choi had three RBIs and the Tampa Bay Rays beat Cleveland 8-2 on Saturday night, extending their winning streak over the Indians...

JULY 25, 2021 • Associated Press

Needing bullpen arm, Rays option Walls With their bullpen taxed and in need of another arm, the Rays optioned infielder Taylor Walls to Triple-A Durham and recalled right-hander S...

JULY 24, 2021 • MLB.COM

Optioned to minors The Rays optioned Walls to Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact The rookie has contributed little offensively of late, going 1-for-15 with a pair of walks since the All-Star break. With a bullpen game Saturday, Tampa Bay needed additional pitching depth, getting it by recalling Sean Poppen in a corresponding move. It's unclear whether Walls will be recalled following Saturday's contest, or if he'll remain in Durham for the time being to get more consistent playing time and continue developing.

JULY 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Patino expected to start for the Rays against Indians

The Rays will start Luis Patino on Thursday and the Indians are expected to counter with Cal Quantrill

JULY 22, 2021 • Associated Press

Sits for second time in four games Walls is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact The promotions of prospects Wander Franco and Vidal Brujan have most negatively affected Joey Wendle and Walls, the latter of whom will sit for the second time in four games. Walls' excellent glove at shortstop should continue to lock him into at least a part-time job, but he'll need to show improvement at the dish in order to see his role grow. Over his last five starts, Walls has gone 1-for-15 with five strikeouts, dropping his batting average to .216.

JULY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Takes seat Sunday Walls is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against Atlanta, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact With six starts in the Rays' last seven games, Walls looks to have an edge on the top job at shortstop, but Tampa Bay's ample depth in the infield means that the rookie will likely sit at least once a week. Wander Franco will fill in at shortstop Sunday in place of Walls, who has opened his big-league career with a .231/.333/.356 slash line, one home run and three stolen bases through his first 121 plate appearances.

JULY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Notes: Walls' cheering section; fears allayed ATLANTA -- After fielding ground balls at shortstop and taking batting practice Friday afternoon, Taylor Walls made his way down to the left...

JULY 17, 2021 • MLB.COM