Rays acquire Rob Refsnyder from Indians for cash considerations
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder from the Cleveland Indians in exchange for cash considerations.
Refsnyder, who turned 27 on Monday, split the 2017 season between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays organizations, appearing in 20 games at second base, 10 games in left field, six games at first base and four games in right field. He was claimed off waivers by the Indians from the Blue Jays last November. He appeared in 26 games for the Indians this spring, batting .191/.298/.362 (9-for-47) with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI.
Over parts of three major league seasons with the Yankees (2015-17) and Blue Jays (2017), Refsnyder has hit .233/.306/.311 (66-for-283) with 14 doubles, two home runs and 17 RBI. He was selected by the Yankees in the fifth round of the 2012 June Draft out of the University of Arizona. In six minor league seasons, he has hit .295/.380/.432 (576-for-1,953) with 128 doubles, 14 triples, 37 home runs and 232 RBI. He was ranked by Baseball America as a Top 10 prospect in the Yankees organization following the 2014 and 2015 seasons.
With his debut in 2015, Refsnyder became the fourth South Korean-born position player in major league history, according to Baseball Reference. He joined outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and infielders Jung Ho Kang and Hee-Seop Choi. He has a chance to become the third South Korean-born player in Rays history, following Jae Weong Seo and Jae Kuk Ryu.
