DRaysBay Mar 21, 2023
Pete Fairbanks working on a splitter
Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/ Pete Fairbanks has a new contract - and a new pitch Pete Fairbanks — the team’s top high leverage arm who recently locked in a three-year deal that will keep him with the Rays through 2025 for $12 million, with an option for 2026 — appears to have added a new pitch this Spring. And a quality one at that: It looks like Pete Fairbanks is working on a splitter... and it's beyond filthy. #RaysHe's separating it from his four-seam by about 11" (of induced vertical break), but it's only ~4 mph slower, elite CH/SPL territory.Here's the...
DRaysBay Mar 17, 2023
Rays Radio broadcaster Neil Solondz promoted to Play-by-Play for 2023
Then Rays Pre and Post-Game Announcer Neil Solondz prepares to announce the Baseball Writers Association of America Awards before the game between the Baltimore Orioles vs. Tampa Bay Rays on Friday, September 29, 2017 at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. (Photo by Skip Milos / Tampa Bay Rays) | Tampa Bay Rays The promotion fills the void left by the passing of Dave Wills two weeks ago. The Tampa Bay Rays have promoted Neil Solondz to play-by-play broadcaster for the Rays Radio Network ahead of the team’s 25th anniversary season, following the untimely death of...
DRaysBay Mar 17, 2023
Rays Stadium Saga featured on Hooks and Runs podcast
The Hooks and Runs most recent podcast featured an episode on the Rays efforts to find a baseball home. You can listen to the episode here, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hosted by Craig Estlinbaum, a retired Houston area judge, Hooks and Runs grows out of a passion for baseball, music and culture, with episodes ranging from fun offseason baseball stories to the notorious Black Sox to Fleetwood Mac to college radio. You can see a list of their recent episodes here. In this Rays-centric episode, we talk baseball, attendance, urban redevelopment, gentrification, and Rays...
DRaysBay Mar 15, 2023
Rays biggest change for 2023: Coaching Staff
Rodney Linares with Rays short stop Wander Franco during the WBC | Photo by Rob Tringali/WBCI/MLB Photos via The Rays 2023 roster will include a lot of the players we got to know in 2022, but there will be some men in uniform who will be new to Rays fans. The Rays coaching staff has gotten a major overhaul. Kevin Cash — the second longest tenured manager in Major League Baseball, with only his managing mentor Terry Francona ahead of him by two seasons — returns for his ninth season in 2023. This year, as always, we’ve seen plenty of staff members getting poached...
DRaysBay Mar 9, 2023
2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List No. 30
Tristan Peters is the 29th ranked prospect. Previous Winner OF Tristan Peters (6’0” 180, 23 in 2023) Tristan Peters was acquired for the Rays in a trade with the San Fransisco Giants on rule 5 draft deadline day for Brett Wisely. Peters had a solid start to the season in the Milwaukee Brewers system hitting .306/.386/.485 and putting up a 141 wRC+ in A+. After the trade to the Giants he struggled when promoted to AA hitting .212/.302/.303 and putting up a 71 wRC+. He draws more than his fair share of walks (10%+) while limiting his strikeouts (below 20%). There isn’t...
DRaysBay Mar 8, 2023
2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List No. 29
Dominic Keegan took down the 28th slot. Previous Winner C Dominic Keegan (6’0 210, 23 in 2023) Dominic Keegan was the Rays fourth round selection in the 2022 draft out of Vanderbilt University. He hit .371/.458/.646 for the Commodores. 2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List Dominica Keegan (6 votes) outpaced the field for the 28th spot ahead of Ronny Simon (4 votes), Chandler Simpson (3 votes), Tristan Peters (2 votes), and Evan Reifert (2 votes). Rules There will be a selection of players listed in the comments. To vote, reply to the player’s name with a +1 in the comment....
DRaysBay Mar 6, 2023
What if Francisco Mejía’s plate discipline is a feature and not a bug?
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports His swing decisions may be a byproduct of a greater plan What stands out to you when you watch this video? pic.twitter.com/VKy4wGpg6k— dog pancake video vault (@dpvv73) February 18, 2023 Hopefully, you noticed that Rays catcher Francisco Mejía struck out swinging on a pitch that missed the zone so bad that it hit him. Obviously not an ideal outcome for any batter. What do you notice when you watch this next video? pic.twitter.com/YNXaXbdyQJ— dog pancake video vault (@dpvv73) February 18, 2023 The pitch missed its spot...
DRaysBay Mar 5, 2023
2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List No. 28
Cooper Kinney is the Rays 27th ranked prospect by the DRaysBay community. Previous Winner 2B/3B Cooper Kinney (6’3” 200, 20 in 2023) Cooper Kinney was the Rays competitive round A draft pick (34th overall) in the 2021 draft out of high school. Unfortunately Kinney missed the entire 2022 season after tearing his labrum during spring workouts. He’s a hit over game power hitter for the time being but has shown raw power in batting practice. 2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List Cooper Kinney (7 votes) takes home the 27th spot ahead of Dominic Keegan (4 votes), Tristan Gray...
DRaysBay Mar 5, 2023
Rays community mourns Dave Wills
Will Vragovic, Tampa Bay Rays All in the Rays community were stunned to learn that long-time radio play-by-play announcer Dave Wills had passed away on Sunday. He was 58 years old Wills had been the radio voice of the Rays for 18 years, making his debut with partner Andy Freed in 2005. News reports did not list a cause of death, but Wills had missed some time in the 2022 season with some cardiac issues. The news of his passing was especially stunning because he had broadcast the Saturday game. You can hear his last call in this clip: Dave Wills’s final call as a...
DRaysBay Mar 2, 2023
2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List No. 27
Heriberto Hernandez is the 26th ranked prospect by the community. Previous Winner OF Heriberto Hernandez (6’1” 195, 23 in 2023) Heriberto Hernandez was one of the minor leaguers that the Rays received from the Texas Rangers in the Nate Lowe trade. At A+ he hit .255/.368/.499 and put up a 135 wRC+ over 494 plate appearances. He hit 24 homers. The power is real. He has shown the discipline to wait for a pitch he can drive with a 13.6% walk rate. The question is will he strike out too much (31.4% in 2023) to allow his plus game power to play. 2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect...
DRaysBay Mar 1, 2023
2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List No. 26
Austin Vernon takes home the 25th spot Previous Winner RHP Austin Vernon (6’8” 256, 24 in 2023) Austin Vernon was the Rays tenth round pick out of North Carolina Central University in 2021. He sits in the mid 90s and has a four pitch mix including a slider, curveball, and changeup as a reliever. He threw 78.2 innings split between A and A+ ball in 2022. He struck out 35.6% of batters faced while walking 12.8%. 2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List Austin Vernon (7 votes) beat out Heriberto Hernandez (4 votes), Chandler Simpson (3 votes), and Tristan Peters (2 votes) for the...
DRaysBay Feb 28, 2023
Tyler Glasnow to miss start of season with oblique injury
Photo by Julio Aguilar/ His timeline to return to game action is 6-8 weeks. Rays ace Tyler Glasnow will not be ready to start the season following an oblique injury. #Rays are still waiting for MRI results on Glasnow but Cash said he is sure to miss start of the regular season with oblique injury: “I would book that right now. … I talked to him this morning - typical soreness, bothers him to sneeze, cough, whatever.”— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 28, 2023 If there were a silver lining to be found, load management (a frequent topic of conversation...
DRaysBay Feb 26, 2023
2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List No. 25
Ryan Cermak is the 24th ranked prospect. Previous Winner OF Ryan Cermak (6’1” 205, 22 in 2023) Ryan Cermak was the Rays second round selection in the 2022 draft out of Illinois State. He posted a .301/.386/.600 line during his college career. He has significant swing and miss, but does hit for power. Has the required speed and arm strength to be a plus defender in a corner or potentially fake it in center if needed. 2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List Ryan Cermak (7 votes) takes down the 24th spot ahead of Austin Vernon (4 votes), Tristan Peters (2 votes), Cooper Kinney...
DRaysBay Feb 24, 2023
Open Thread: IT’S BASEBALL TIME (almost)
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports The first Tampa Bay Rays game of the year takes place on Saturday, February 24th After a long offseason, the Tampa Bay Rays will finally take the field for the first time in 2023 as they’ll take on the Minnesota Twins in their Grapefruit League opener on Saturday afternoon. It’s the first of many games for the Rays this spring as they’ll look to their main core of players healthy and make decisions regarding the final few roster spots that are up for grabs. The Rays pitching staff is mostly decided with one and possible two...
DRaysBay Feb 23, 2023
2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List No. 24
Greg Jones takes down the 23 spot. Previous Winner SS/OF Greg Jones (5’11” 175, 25 in 2023) Greg Jones was the Rays first round selection out of the University of North Carolina - Wilmington in 2019. Jones struggled with his promotion to AA last year putting up a .238/.318/.392 line and 88 wRC+. His strikeout rate surged to 35.8% while his walk rate fell to 7.5%. He did steal 37 bags while being caught five times. Many expect his ultimate defensive home is likely in centerfield where his elite speed will play better. 2023 DRaysBay Community Prospect List Greg Jones (7...
