Welcome to the wonderful world of Tampa Bay Rays baseball. Founded in 1998, the Rays have been a staple of Major League Baseball for over two decades. From their brand new stadium, Tropicana Field, to their thrilling wins and losses on the field – there is something here for everyone. The team has seen its fair share of success with six AL East Division titles under its belt and an appearance at the World Series in 2008. So come join us as we cheer on our beloved Rays while they battle it out against some of baseball’s best teams each season.
1. Evan Longoria
Designated hitter
Career
- 3x All-Star (2008–2010), AL Rookie of the Year (2008), Silver Slugger Award (2009), 3× Gold Glove Award (2009, 2010, 2017), Fielding Bible Award (2010), Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award (2013), Hit for the cycle on August 1, 2017
Evan Longoria is a talented 3rd baseman who has had success in the MLB. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 and debuted with them that season. Evan has since played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants, and Toronto Blue Jays.
In 2018, he won his first World Series title with the San Francisco Giants. Evan is married to Tiffany Trump and they have one child together named Theodore Roosevelt Longoria-Trump (born 2019). Evan Longoria is a three-time all-star, having won the Rookie of the Year award in 2008.
He was also among the league leaders in fielding percentage each year from 2009 to 2017, winning three consecutive Gold Glove Awards. In 2010, he was awarded Wilson Defensive Player of the Year Award and hit for cycle on August 1 that same year.
Also Played For: cape cod baseball league, san francisco giants
2. Carl Crawford
Outfielder
Career
- 4× All-Star (2004, 2007, 2009, 2010), Gold Glove Award (2010), Silver Slugger Award (2010), 4× AL stolen base leader (2003, 2004, 2006, 2007)
Carl Crawford is a left fielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was drafted by Tampa Bay in the first round of the 2002 MLB draft and has been with them ever since.
Crawford had an impressive rookie season, batting .290 with 36 home runs and 766 RBIs. In 2003 he won his first Silver Slugger Award as one of baseball's top hitters.
The 2004 season was a down year for Carl Crawford, who hit just 21 home runs while seeing his batting average dip to .264. However, 2005 saw him bounce back with 33 homers and 806 RBIs over 157 games played.
As 2007 drew to a close, speculation began to circulate that Crawford might be traded before the Dodgers' July 31st trade deadline; however, LA elected not to deal him despite offers from several teams including Boston and Toronto (the Blue Jays ultimately got Jose Bautista in return).
After struggling through 2008 (.269 AVG), 2009 looked like it could be Carl Crawford's comeback year - but he suffered a knee injury on May 10th which sidelined him for much of the summer months; when he returned late in September he batted just .236/.291/.372 for the remainder of the season-ending up at .272 on the whole.
though still good enough for 3rd place votes behind Ryan Braun & Manny Ramirez in NL MVP voting.
Despite some off-season rumors linking him to potential trades away from LAD (most notably Cleveland), it appeared as though 2010 would finally see Carl take things into his own hands: after hitting 27 HRs en route to finishing 2nd in league MVP voting.
only trailing Joey Votto by 1 vote. Unfortunately, injuries plagued both player & team during 2011 ('Tommy John surgery' cost Carl most of August/September) & 2012 respectively resulting in declining stats (though still respectable numbers at 28 HRs & 702 RBI) - leading many pundits (& ownership) calling time on 'The Crawfish'.
HRs thru May 15th); once again injuries were blamed (/shamelessly paraded around social media). This time costing CC nearly half-a-year worth of action: returning briefly in mid-July 2015 (~14 days.).
Before being shut down completely until early April 2016 due to ongoing concussion symptoms caused by previous head trauma sustained during Spring Training play earlier that same year.
3. Carlos Peña
Infielder
Career
- All-Star (2009), Gold Glove Award (2008), Silver Slugger Award (2007), AL Comeback Player of the Year (2007), AL home run leader (2009)
Carlos Peña is a first baseman for the Texas Rangers. He has played in MLB for 11 seasons, and he has been a part of two World Series teams (the 2009 Rangers and the 2010 Giants).
Carlos Peña was born on May 17, 1978 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Growing up, he played baseball at an early age and started to make waves as a professional player when he made his debut with the Texas Rangers in 2001.
Over the course of his career, Carlos Peña has averaged over 232 hits per season and 286 home runs while also driving in 818 runs batted in.
He announced his retirement from professional baseball after playing with the Texas Rangers during their 2014 season finale.
Outside of baseball, Carlos Peña is known mostly for being married to singer Nelly Furtado who welcomed their first child together back in 2012 (their second child arrived later that year).
Currently living back down under after spending some time residing near Los Angeles since retiring from baseball, CarlosPeñas plans include starting up his own business venture once again which will involve working with athletes from other sports disciplines such as basketball or soccer.
4. Ben Zobrist
Infielder
Career
- 3× All-Star (2009, 2013, 2016), 2× World Series champion (2015, 2016), World Series MVP (2016)
Ben Zobrist played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2006 to 2009 and then moved on to play with the Chicago Cubs from 2010 to 2019. Ben is a switch hitter who bats left-handed but throws right-handed.
Ben has been an All-Star twice, in 2008 and 2014, and he was also named MVP of the 2013 World Series when the Cubs won it against Boston Red Sox. In total, Ben has hit .281 with 226 home runs and 811 RBI in 11 seasons in MLB.
After leaving baseball at the end of 2019, Ben is now focusing on his role as a commentator for Fox Sports 1's coverage of Major League Baseball games. Ben Zobrist is a versatile player who has played for five different teams over the course of his career.
He has been an All-Star three times and was named World Series MVP in 2016. Ben Zobrist is known for his strong batting average and home runs numbers, as well as his ability to get on base consistently.
Also Played For: mlb utility
5. David Price
Pitcher
Career
- 5× All-Star (2010–2012, 2014, 2015), World Series champion (2018), AL Cy Young Award (2012), AL Comeback Player of the Year (2018), AL wins leader (2012), 2× AL ERA leader (2012, 2015), MLB strikeout leader (2014), Babe Ruth Award (2018), Golden Spikes Award (2007), Dick Howser Trophy (2007)
David Price is a former MLB pitcher who spent his entire career with the Boston Red Sox. He won 157 games in his career and had an ERA of 3.32, striking out 2,076 batters in the process.
David Price was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of the 2019 season and is looking to help them win another World Series title.
David Price was born on August 26th, 1985 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and attended Clemson University before being drafted by Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 as a first-round draft pick David Price is a three-time All-Star and two-time AL Cy Young Award winner.
He has also led the MLB in strikeouts twice and holds the record for most complete games in an MLB career with 66. In 2018, David Price was awarded the Babe Ruth Award which is given to the best Major League Baseball player every year.
David Price will be playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers next season after spending his first six seasons with Boston Red Sox.
Also Played For: vanderbilt university baseball
6. Aubrey Huff
Career
- 2× World Series champion (2010, 2012), Silver Slugger Award (2008)
Aubrey Huff is a three-time all-star and has hit over .300 in eight of his ten seasons in the majors. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2000 and made his MLB debut that year.
After playing for five other teams, he finally settled with the San Francisco Giants in 2012. Huff had two stints on the disabled list during his career - one due to a herniated disc, and another due to an irregular heartbeat - but still averaged 27 home runs per season while hitting over 100 RBIs each year.
As a designated hitter, Huff became known as "Mr Clutch" because of his ability to come through when it matters most (he's batting .324 with 24 game-winning hits).
Aubrey Huff will be remembered most fondly for leading Team USA to their first World Baseball Classic championship in 2006, which capped off a successful international career spanning six years overall.
7. James Shields
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (2011)
James Shields is a MLB pitcher who has played for the Tampa Bay Rays and Kansas City Royals. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2006, and made his MLB debut with them that year.
Shields spent six seasons with the Devil Rays before being traded to the Kansas City Royals in 2011. In 2012, he helped lead the Royals to their first-ever World Series championship victory over St Louis Cardinals.
Shields signed a three-year contract with the San Diego Padres in December of 2013, but only managed one win in 36 appearances for them before being released at the end of 2015 season.
He then joined his fellow American League team, Oakland A's where he finished out his career playing one last game on September 28th 2016.
James Shields is a veteran pitcher in the MLB who has had success with Tampa Bay, Kansas City, and now Chicago. He was an All-Star in 2011 and has been successful throughout his career. Shields throws a fastball, slider, changeup and knuckleball.
8. Scott Kazmir
Pitcher
Career
- 3× All-Star (2006, 2008, 2014), AL strikeout leader (2007)
Scott Kazmir is a veteran pitcher who has spent his entire MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He made his MLB debut in 2004 and has since played for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Oakland Athletics, Toronto Blue Jays, Cleveland Indians and Los Angeles Dodgers.
In total, he has compiled 108 wins and 97 losses during his time in the majors. His ERA lies at 4.02 but he also boasts 1,618 strikeouts over that period of time.
Scott Kazmir's best season came in 2016 when he won 16 games for the LA Dodgers - his first championship ring as a professional sportsman.
Currently aged 38 years old, it would appear that Scott Kazmir's days as an active player are behind him although rumors persist of a potential return to either the Oakland or Cleveland franchises in future seasons Scott Kazmir attended UCLA and started his baseball career with the Bruins. As a member of Cleveland, Kazmir won two World Series titles in 2007 and 2016.
He also helped lead the Indians to their first playoff appearance since 1997 in 2017. In November 2018, Scott Kazmir was traded to the Houston Astros for three players and $22 million dollars over 4 years (2021- 2025).
Scott Kazmir's nickname is "The Shark". This is because he has an incredibly fast delivery on the mound which some have compared to that of a shark attacking its prey.
He married former Miss USA Shanna Moakler in May 2019 at Disneyland near Los Angeles, California - becoming only the third MLB player ever (after Ken Griffey Jr and David Cone) to marry while still playing professional baseball.
9. B. J. Upton
Outfielder
Upton is a center fielder who has played in the Major Leagues for 11 seasons. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 2003 and made his debut with them two years later.
Upton spent six seasons with the Braves before being traded to Toronto in 2011. In 2016, he recorded career-highs in home runs (25) and RBIs (88). Upton will be an unrestricted free agent at the end of this season and is considered one of the best outfielders available on the open market.
Upton was drafted by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in 2004 and made his MLB debut with them in 2006. Upton spent four seasons with the Rays before being traded to the Atlanta Braves in 2013.
When he left Tampa Bay, Upton had a batting average of .244 and 166 home runs over 586 games played. In 2015, Upton signed a three-year deal with San Diego Padres and flourished under new manager Andy Green, hitting 39 home runs in 2016 alone en route to winning his first NL MVP Award.
In January of 2017, Upton was traded to Toronto Blue Jays for prospects including Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and Jordan Groshans He has since helped the team win two division titles (2017 & 2018) as well as their first ever Canadian Championship title this season.
10. Kevin Kiermaier
Center fielder
Career
- 3× Gold Glove Award (2015, 2016, 2019), Platinum Glove Award (2015)
Kiermaier was a 2nd round pick of the Tampa Bay Rays in 2008 and has since emerged as one of their top young players. Kiermaier debuted with the Rays in 2013 and hit .261/.343/.407 in his first full season, showing flashes of brilliance but also some inconsistency.
In 2014, Kiermaier put it all together offensively, hitting .293/.372/.512 with 24 home runs and 97 RBIs en route to winning American League MVP honors.
The Blue Jays acquired him from Tampa Bay as part of the blockbuster deal that sent David Price to Detroit at the end of the 2015 season; he made his debut for Toronto on July 29th against Seattle (hitting an RBI double).
Kiermaier has continued to be one of baseball's most explosive hitters this year, putting up numbers reminiscent of his breakout campaign two years ago (.313/.386/.561 with 25 HR & 94 R) while playing excellent defense at centerfield.
11. Fred McGriff
Career
- 5× All-Star (1992, 1994–1996, 2000), World Series champion (1995), 3× Silver Slugger Award (1989, 1992, 1993), 2× Home run leader (1989, 1992)
McGriff is a first baseman who played in the Major Leagues for 17 seasons, most notably with the Toronto Blue Jays and Tampa Bay Devil Rays. He was known as an excellent power hitter and led the league in home runs twice.
McGriff announced his retirement from baseball after playing his last game for the Devil Rays on July 15, 2004. Since then he has worked as a broadcaster for Fox Sports Florida.
Fred McGriff was born on October 31, 1963, in Tampa, Florida to parents of Jamaican descent.
As a child he loved playing ball and showed great potential at both football and baseball; however, it wasn't until he attended Hillsborough Community College that he started to make waves within collegiate athletics circles.
After two years at HCC (where he helped lead them to back-to-back NJCAA World Series championships), McGriff transferred to Miami Dade College where he continued to amass impressive stats (.413 batting average with 49 homers over three seasons).
In 1986 McGriff made his MLB debut with the Toronto Blue Jays – hitting .284 with 2,490 hits and 49 home runs over 17 seasons before retiring following the 2004 season. At age 41 due to recurring neck issues stemming from several concussions sustained while playing professional ball.
While never achieving superstar status or being particularly well-liked by fans or teammates alike – largely because of his surly attitude towards reporters (or anyone else).
Fred McGriff nevertheless remains one of best hitters in MLB history has posted an incredible .284 batting average along with 500+ RBIs & 50 HRs across all competitions.
Also Played For: atlanta braves, san diego padres
12. Randy Arozarena
Outfielder
Career
- AL Rookie of the Year (2021), ALCS MVP (2020)
Arozarena was born in 1995 in Pinar del Río, Cuba. He signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as a free agent in 2019 and made his MLB debut that season. In 122 games for St.
Louis, Arozarena hit .269 with 48 home runs and 102 RBIs. The 27-year-old center fielder is coming off of a strong year where he hit .293 with 36 homers and 105 RBIs for the Rays in 2020.
Arozarena has played all three outfield positions throughout his career but projects best as a right fielder due to his power-hitting ability combined with good range at this position on both sides of the ball.
Arozarenas' Cuban heritage should also make him an attractive player to many teams looking for players from that country who can excel on the field while staying within their culture and customs without bringing attention or conflict to themselves or their teammates.
13. Desmond Jennings
Outfielder
Desmond Jennings was born in Birmingham, Alabama on October 30th, 1986. He attended Hoover High School where he starred in both football and baseball. Jennings signed with the Tampa Bay Rays as an undrafted free agent in 2007 after playing college ball at Vanderbilt University.
In his seven seasons with the Rays, Desmond has played a total of 463 games, batting .269/.331/.459 with 131 home runs and 557 RBIs to go along with 56 stolen bases (an average of 14 per season).
On July 29th, 2014 Jennings re-signed with the Rays to a one-year contract worth $8 million dollars ($1 million more than he had been previously offered by the Detroit Tigers).
Following the season Desmond became a free agent once again and decided to sign a two-year deal worth $16 million dollars with the Milwaukee Brewers organization (.500 SLG career hitter Willie Mays is currently their all-time highest-paid player).
14. Ji-man Choi
First baseman
Ji-man Choi is a 31-year-old first baseman and outfielder who has spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He was drafted by the Pirates in the 3rd round of the 2010 MLB Draft and made his Major League debut in 2018.
In 2019, he set a new franchise record for most hits in a season (186). Choi also led the team with 46 doubles and 21 home runs that season.
His performance caught the eye of several teams during free agency, but he decided to re-sign with Pittsburgh on a four-year deal worth $44 million dollars in early 2020.
Ji-man Choi made his MLB debut with the Los Angeles Angels in 2016 and had an immediate impact, batting .239 with 61 home runs and 225 RBI over 4 seasons. Ji-man Choi is a power hitter who can hit for both average and power, making him a threat at any point in the game.
Ji-man Choi has been a key part of all four teams he's played for, being a valuable contributor on each squad.
Ji-man Choi will be 34 years old when the 2022 season comes to an end, so he may not have many more opportunities to play in the majors; nevertheless, he'll go down as one of the most successful hitters in history regardless of whether or not he finishes his career there.
15. Andrew Kittredge
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (2021)
Kittredge made his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. The right-hander was originally signed by the Boston Red Sox as an undrafted free agent in 2009.
Kittredge has spent parts of six seasons with the Rays organization, appearing in a total of 154 games (128 starts). He holds a career record of 57-60 with a 4.48 ERA and 1,269 strikeouts over 1071 innings pitched.
Kittredge was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 5th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. Kittredge made his major league debut with the Rays on July 18, 2017 and finished 2018 with a win-loss record of 16-7. In 2020 he will be an All-Star for the first time in his career.
His 3rd best season statistically was in 2017 when he had a 3.68 earned run average and 196 strikeouts over 161 innings pitched.
16. Ryan Yarbrough
Pitcher
Ryan Yarbrough was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 4th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut with their Rookie League team in 2012 and spent 2013-2015 with their Class A affiliate before being called up to their Major League team in 2016.
In 2017 he had a breakout year pitching for the Double-A Northwest Arkansas Naturals, posting a 2.92 ERA over 111 innings pitched (10 starts).
He continued that success into 2018 when he was called up to join the Tampa Bay Rays bullpen as part of an attempt to bolster their struggling rotation.
However, despite making 19 appearances out of the pen, including 8 starts, Yarbrough struggled mightily; finishing with an ERA above 5 for just the second time in his career (the first was during his rookie season).
On July 26th it was announced that Yarbrough would be returning to Kansas City's starting rotation effective immediately; however, due to injuries to other starters, he only made one start before being placed back on the DL on August 9th with right shoulder inflammation.
17. Matt Joyce
Outfielder
Career
- All-Star (2011)
Matt Joyce made his MLB debut in 2008 with the Detroit Tigers. He played with the Philadelphia Phillies until 2021, before retiring at the age of 38. In total, he played in 988 games over 10 seasons and amassed 2,056 hits and 306 RBIs.
Joyce is most famous for hitting a home run against David Price in Game 7 of the ALCS during his time with the Detroit Tigers, which helped them win their first-ever World Series title.
After retiring from baseball, Matt Joyce started working as a Fox Sports analyst and can be seen regularly on coverage of Major League Baseball matches around America’s television networks (Fox Sports 1 & FS2).
Matt Joyce is a right-handed batter who bats left-handed. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 5th round of the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft. In his rookie season, he hit .268 with 16 home runs and 69 RBIs in 137 games played.
In 2010, Matt Joyce improved his batting average to .288 while also hitting 25 home runs and driving in 101 RBIs over 132 games played; he was named to the All-Star team for both seasons.
On July 27, 2011, Matt Joyce became only the fourth player ever (joining Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle and Mike Schmidt) to have four hits off of Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw within one game when he singled off him in an 8–1 victory for Tampa Bay Rays at Dodger Stadium.
After spending time on injured reserve due to a strained hamstring suffered during spring training of 2012, Joyce bounced back strong that year as well.
Hitting 37 home runs with 117 RBIs over 163 games played (.293 BA), earning himself another berth on the All-Star team as well as being named AL Comeback Player of The Year honors.
He won this award again after posting similar stats (37 HR/130 RBI) but recording them all at first base instead of DHing in 2016 owing mostly to Kris Bryant's MVP performance at third base for Chicago Cubs National League Champion Philadelphia Phillies.
Upon returning from injury late September 2017 against Houston Astros, Joyce went 0x3 going 1B 4 times despite playing 2 days earlier vs Minnesota Twins where had 3 singles including a 2 run homerun off Phil Hughes pitching 9 innings and allowing no earned runs.
Matt Joyce enjoyed successful tenures with two teams - Tampa Bay Rays (2009-2014) and Los Angeles Angels OF Anaheim (2015).
With LAA 2019 marked as his last hurrah before moving onto other endeavors such as coaching youth baseball or broadcasting MLB contests - it would be interesting seeing how those numbers compare next season should either Detroit Tigers or Atlanta Braves acquire him via free agency.
18. Julio Lugo
Shortstop
Career
- World Series champion (2007)
Julio Lugo was a shortstop who played in the MLB for over 10 years. He had a very successful career with the Atlanta Braves, but he also had some good seasons with the Houston Astros.
Julio Lugo passed away on November 15th, 2021 at the age of 45 after battling cancer for several years. Lugo is a former MLB player who played for the Houston Astros, Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Lugo had an impressive batting average of .269 throughout his career with over 80 home runs to his name. He also accrued 475 RBIs which makes him one of the most successful hitters in MLB history.
Lugo was part of two World Series championship teams (2007 & 2009) and was awarded the Most Valuable Player award on both occasions.
In October 2011, Lugo signed with the Baltimore Orioles but he only managed to play 36 games before retiring at the end of that season due to injury.
19. Blake Snell
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (2018), AL Cy Young Award (2018), AL wins leader (2018), AL ERA leader (2018)
Blake Snell is a pitcher with the Tampa Bay Rays. He made his MLB debut in 2016 and has since been impressive, posting a 3.11 ERA over 183 innings pitched.
His fastball averages around 97 mph and he also throws a slider, changeup, and curveball. Snell was originally drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the fifth round of the 2012 draft but did not sign with them out of high school.
The Padres then signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2014 and he has remained there ever since except for one season spent with the Rays organization between 2018-2019 before rejoining San Diego this year.
Blake Snell was born on December 4th 1992, making him just 30 years old at present time – young enough to still have plenty of baseballs ahead of him.
Blake Snell is having an outstanding season for the Tampa Bay Rays, winning both the AL Cy Young Award and AL wins leader. He burst onto the scene in 2016 with a breakout performance that saw him win Rookie of the Year honors.
In 2017, he continued to impress with his dominant pitching performances as he led all major league pitchers in strikeouts while also posting a below-average ERA.
Blake Snell has established himself as one of baseball's top young stars and looks to keep on dominating for years to come.
20. Alex Cobb
Pitcher
Alex Cobb is a 35-year-old pitcher who has spent his entire career with the Baltimore Orioles. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the first round of the 2006 MLB Draft, but he never played for them because they traded him to the Baltimore Orioles three months later.
In 2013, Cobb had surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow, and it caused him to miss most of that season and all of 2014 as well. The following year (2015), he led baseball in innings pitched (233) and finished second in strikeouts (230).
In 2018, Cobb signed a two-year contract extension with the Orioles worth $32 million dollars; however, due to injuries sustained throughout 2019 including an injury while pitching against.
Tampa Bay Rays on July 1st which sidelined him for four weeks, Cobb ended up having Tommy John Surgery on July 25th which will rule him out until sometime in 2020 at best.MLB Press Release: Alex Cobb undergoes Tommy John Surgery.
21. Chris Archer
Pitcher
Career
- 2× All-Star (2015, 2017)
Chris Archer is a rising star in MLB and has been for some time. His stats speak for themselves, as he's won 63 games and lost 89 during his career. He debuted with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2012 and since then, has established himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Archer is known for being able to get strikeouts at an impressive rate while also not allowing many runs to be scored against him.
As Chris Archer continues to perform well, it's likely that he will soon reach the level of success that many people thought was possible when he first debuted into the MLB scene years ago.
Archer is a pitcher who has been with the Tampa Bay Rays for the past three seasons. He was selected to play in both the 2015 and 2017 All-Star games, becoming one of just four players to be named to both events. His pitching style relies on locating his pitches effectively, as well as having an effective changeup and slider.
Archer currently sits at fifth all time in strikeouts with 1,454 career batters faced; he also ranks fourth in wins with 137 victories across six seasons with Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh combined.
22. Jason Bartlett
Career
- All-Star (2009)
Jason Bartlett made his MLB debut for the Minnesota Twins in 2004. He played shortstop for most of his career, but he also had brief stints at second base and third base.
After playing with the San Diego Padres from 2009 to 2013, Jason retired after the season. He currently works as a coach for the Padres minor league team in El Paso, Texas.
Bartlett played for the Minnesota Twins from 2004-2007 and was an All-Star in 2009. Bartlett hit 31 home runs with 286 RBIs in his career, making him one of the most productive hitters in the Twins' history.
After playing for Tampa Bay Rays (2008-2010) and San Diego Padres (2011), Bartlett rejoined the Twins as a free agent in 2014. In 2018, Bartlett announced his retirement after 14 seasons in professional baseball.
23. Brandon Lowe
Second baseman
Career
- All-Star (2019), All-MLB Second Team (2020)
Lowe had a breakout season in 2018 with the Tampa Bay Rays, batting .271 with 12 home runs and 47 RBI. Lowe is a versatile second baseman who can play both defensively at shortstop and second base, as well as hit for power from the left side of the plate.
Lowe was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013 but never played professionally there before being traded to Tampa Bay earlier this year.
Lowe is signed through 2020 with an option for 2021, so he should be back in MLB next season barring any injuries or unforeseen circumstances.
Lowe has spent most of his career playing minor league ball (including three seasons at Triple-A) before breaking into the majors this past season on a team that made it to Game 7 of the World Series - something that will undoubtedly add some extra motivation heading into 2019 campaign.
Also Played For: fantasy baseball
24. Logan Forsythe
Infielder
Forsythe was drafted by the San Diego Padres in the first round of the 2009 MLB draft. Forsythe made his MLB debut with the Padres in 2011 and has since played for several other teams, including the Miami Marlins and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Forsythe is a right-handed batter and thrower who bats left-handed. He has had some success at the big league level, batting over .240 on occasion.
Forsythe is currently a second baseman for the Dodgers organization but could very well end up playing elsewhere in 2020 as he nears free agency age (35).
Forsythe seems to be a popular player among teammates and fans alike, due partly to his likable personality as well as his strong play on the field Logan Forsythe won the Platinum Glove Award in 2018, becoming just the 10th player in MLB history to win both a Gold Glove and Platinum Glove.
Forsythe also finished 2nd overall on the ballot for fan voting for the All-Star Game that year with over 675,000 votes.
Originally drafted by San Diego Padres in 2011, Forsythe made his big league debut with Tampa Bay Rays later that season and has since played for Los Angeles Dodgers (2017), Minnesota Twins (2018) and Texas Rangers (2019).
With 71 home runs over six seasons, Logan is one of baseball's most potent hitters from both sides of the plate. He was born on July 29th, 1992 in Pensacola Beach Florida and currently resides in Dallas Texas with wife Ashtonlin and daughter Harper Rose.
25. Rocco Baldelli
Career
- AL Manager of the Year (2019)
Rocco Baldelli was a top-of-the-line outfielder with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays from 2003 to 2010. He is currently playing for the Minnesota Twins as a manager and outfielder.
Rocco Baldelli has been an All-Star in both 2006 and 2007, and he led the American League in stolen bases in 2007. Rocco Baldelli also played for the Minnesota Twins from 2005 to 2008, batting .264 with 47 home runs during that time span.
In 2009, he signed with the Boston Red Sox but never made it onto their roster before being released at midseason; then he rejoined the Twins midway through that season on September 1st after spending most of 2009 out of baseball due to injury.
On October 3rd, 2010, Rocco Baldelli announced his retirement from professional baseball after injuring himself while fielding a ground ball during game play against Kansas City Royals.
26. JP Feyereisen
Pitcher
JP Feyereisen is a 29-year-old pitcher who has played for the Los Angeles Dodgers and Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders in 2018. He was drafted by the Houston Astros in 2013, but did not sign with them.
Instead, he signed with the Dodgers as an undrafted free agent. Feyereisen made his MLB debut with the Dodgers on September 3rd, 2018 against the San Francisco Giants. In that game, he threw 5 innings and gave up 2 earned runs on 4 hits while striking out 6 batters.
After appearing in just one more game for LA before being traded to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre at the end of August, Feyereisen finished his season with a record of 1 win and 5 losses including 8 starts where he allowed at least 7 earned runs (including 7 games where he allowed 10 or more).
His struggles this year may have been due to injuries - prior to getting hurt late in June, Feyereisen had pitched very well over his previous few months(he had even won two straight starts).
So it's possible that some regression was inevitable following such an impressive run of form beforehand; however, it's too early to say for sure what caused him to struggle this year specifically – whether it be mechanical issues or simply bad luck.
It should be noted that despite all these struggles this year (and especially last month when things went particularly south), there are still some scouts who believe that JP Feyerenis can develop into something special if given enough time; so don't count him out just yet.
27. Yandy Díaz
Infielder
Yandy Díaz played for the Tampa Bay Rays in 2017. He is a Cuban-born third baseman and first baseman who has played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians, Tampa Bay Rays, and Baltimore Orioles.
Diaz was selected by Cleveland in the second round of the 2010 MLB Draft after playing college baseball at Miami (FL). In 2016 he won his second Silver Slugger Award as one of the best offensive players in MLB.
On July 24th, 2018 Diaz signed with Estrellas de Oriente of The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League to return to play professional baseball after a two-year hiatus from professional ball due to an injury suffered.
Spring Training with Tampa Bay caused him to miss most if not all of the 2017 season; however on October 6th, it was announced that he had decided against signing with Estrellas de Oriente and would instead rejoin the Orioles following their postseason run.
His father José also played professionally as an infielder before retiring from playing following Yandy's birth.
28. Shane McClanahan
Pitcher
Career
- All-Star (2022)
McClanahan made his MLB debut in July of 2021 with the Tampa Bay Rays. He is a left-handed pitcher who has shown great potential throughout his career.
McClanahan is currently 25 years old and has yet to disappoint in the majors.
McClanahan is a right-handed pitcher who has spent his entire career with the Tampa Bay Rays. McClanahan made his MLB debut in 2020 and went on to post a 22–14 record with 335 strikeouts over the course of three seasons.
He was named an All-Star for the 2022 season and finished fifth in voting behind Bryce Harper, Manny Machado, Josh Donaldson, and Alex Bregman.
Also Played For: mlb under 25
29. Wander Franco
Infielder
Wander Franco is a shortstop and third baseman who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round of the 2021 MLB draft. Franco made his debut with the Rays on September 3, 2021 at home against the Chicago White Sox.
He went 2-for-4 with an RBI and two stolen bases. In 122 games for Tampa Bay in 2021, Franco hit .251 with 11 doubles, one triple, four homers and 34 RBIs.
On July 26th, 2022 he was traded to the Oakland Athletics in exchange for Jesus Luzardo and Max Wotell.
In 123 games for Oakland in 2022, Franco hit .269 with 12 doubles, one triple, three homers and 41 RBIs as he helped lead Oakland to their first postseason appearance since 2006.
The 23-year-old infielder signed a contract extension with Oakland on November 1st that will keep him through 2024 season.
Also Played For: mlb
30. Taylor Walls
Shortstop
Walls was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round of the 2017 MLB draft. Walls made his professional debut with the Hudson Valley Renegades in 2017 and had a successful season batting .269 with 7 home runs and 62 RBIs.
In 2018, Walls played for both the Montgomery Biscuits (A) and Durham Bulls (AA) where he batted an impressive .309 with 18 home runs and 83 RBIs between both clubs.
During 2019 spring training, Walls was traded to the Kansas City Royals organization as part of a blockbuster deal that also involved Kelvin Herrera and Jorge Bonifacio It's anticipated that Wall will spend time at both Double-A Wichita State (.298/.373/.578) and Triple-A Omaha (.290/.377/.554).
Taylor Walls made his MLB debut in 2021 with the Tampa Bay Rays. Walls is a right-handed hitter and played college baseball at Vanderbilt. In 2019, he hit .242 with six home runs and 43 RBIs for the Durham Bulls of the Triple-A International League.
He has an average batting average over his career in both the MLB and minor leagues but has been most successful as a power hitter (.182 batting average).
31. Wade Boggs
Career
- 12× All-Star (1985–1996)
- World Series champion (1996)
- 2× Gold Glove Award (1994, 1995)
- 8× Silver Slugger Award (1983, 1986–1989, 1991, 1993, 1994)
- 5× AL batting champion (1983, 1985–1988)
- Boston Red Sox No. 26 retired
- Tampa Bay Rays No. 12 retired
- Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame
Wade Boggs was a three-time All-Star and won two Gold Gloves in his career. He spent almost all of his 13 seasons with the Boston Red Sox, where he finished as the franchise leader in home runs (118) and RBIs (1,014).
After leaving Boston for Tampa Bay in 1999, Boggs hit just .259 over the next four years before retiring at age 36 in 2003. Wade is now an ESPN analyst and occasional player-coach on their Baseball Tonight show. In 2013, he was elected to the Hall of Fame by a vote of fellow MLB players.
Wade Boggs was a well-known and highly respected player in the MLB for many years. He played on some of the most successful teams of all time, including the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Even though he retired several years ago, Wade Boggs remains an important part of both baseball history and lore.
He is a Hall of Fame inductee and has been awarded numerous accolades throughout his career, including two Gold Glove Awards as well as MVP votes multiple times.
Wade Boggs never seemed to stop hitting during his lengthy professional career; even at age 40, he hit over 300 for one season with the Devil Rays.
His dedication to the sport showed through in every game he played, no matter who or what was against him.
In 2005 Wade Boggs became only the fourth player in MLB history to be elected into both the National Baseball Hall of Fame and its Veterans Committee simultaneously (joining Hank Aaron, Willie Mays, and Cy Young).
This testament not only proves just how great an individual Wade Boggs was but also highlights his longstanding influence on American baseball culture overall.
32. Jalen Beeks
Pitcher
Jalen Beeks is a pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. He was drafted by the team in the sixth round of the 2013 MLB Draft and made his debut in 2016.
Jalen is one of four children born to parents who both played baseball at some point in their lives, which helped him develop an early love for the sport.
After graduating from high school, Jalen attended Arkansas State University where he starred as a pitcher for the Bulldogs baseball team.
In 2017, Beeks was named Sun Belt Pitcher of The Year after posting a 2-1 record with a 1.53 ERA and 43 strikeouts over 39 innings pitched that season while helping ASU clinch its first conference championship since 2007.
In 2018, Beeks again led ASU to victory as he finished second in voting for Sun Belt Pitcher of The Year behind Georgia's Michael Wacha Jr. His 14 victories were also tied for third most all time at ASU and set new single-season records for wins (14) and strikeouts (165).
Beeks will make his Major League Baseball debut this season with Tampa Bay after being called up on September 4th following injuries suffered by starter Blake Snell.
33. Matt Garza
Pitcher
Career
- ALCS MVP (2008), Pitched a no-hitter on July 26, 2010
Matt Garza is a right-handed pitcher who has spent his entire MLB career with the Milwaukee Brewers. Matt Garza was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 2nd round of the 2002 amateur draft and made his MLB debut with them that year.
He has since pitched for several other teams but is most notable for having played for the Milwaukee Brewers from 2006 to 2017.
While he may not have had as successful a career as some pitchers do, Matt Garza is still regarded highly by both fans and teammates alike due to his hard work on the field and strong character off it.
After leaving baseball following the 2017 season, Matt Garza plans to pursue a new hobby - golfing. Matt Garza is a pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers.
He has played in nine MLB seasons and has a win-loss record of 93-106 with an ERA of 4.09. Garza was named the ALCS MVP in 2008 after leading his team to victory over the Texas Rangers.
In 2010, he pitched a no-hitter against the Tampa Bay Rays which remains one of only three in major league history (alongside Sandy Koufax and Randy Johnson).
Garza was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2006 but did not make his debut until 2007 due to injury; he spent two years with them before being traded to Tampa Bay midway through the 2008 season.
34. Vidal Bruján
Shortstop
Vidal Bruján is a 24-year-old switch hitter and second baseman for the Tampa Bay Rays. He was signed by the Rays as an international free agent in 2017 and made his professional debut that same year with their Rookie League affiliate, the Charlotte Stone Crabs.
In 2018, he spent time with both Advanced-A Bowling Green (56 games) and Double-A Montgomery (14 games), posting respectable batting averages of .288/.336/.527 with seven home runs and 34 RBIs between them.
Bruján made his major league debut on July 25th against the New York Yankees, going 2 for 4 with one run scored in what would be his only appearance that season.
He returned to Triple-A Durham prior to the 2019 season, where he has continued to produce at a high level (.308 / 15 HR / 63 RBI). With injury plaguing several key members of the Rays' infield over recent weeks - including Kevin Kiermaier (knee surgery).
Willy Adames (hamstring strain), Mallex Smith (elbow sprain) - Bruján's ascension up the depth chart looks all but assured moving forward.
Also Played For: durham bulls
35. Yonny Chirinos
Pitcher
Yonny Chirinos is a pitcher for the Tampa Bay Rays. Yonny was signed by the Rays as an international free agent in 2012. He made his professional debut with the Gulf Coast League Rays in 2013 and then moved up to Advanced-A Ball that same year.
In 2015, Chirinos pitched for High A Charlotte before being promoted to Double-A Montgomery that season where he finished 2nd in strikeouts (128) and 1st in ERA (1.71).
In 2016, he again led Montgomery in strikeouts (151) while finishing 3rd in ERA (2.42).
On July 26th of that year, Chirinos was called up to Triple-A Durham and made his major league debut three days later against the Detroit Tigers pitching 5 innings allowing 4 earned runs on 6 hits with one walk and 7 strikeouts earning him the win despite only having 8 relief appearances under his belt at that point.
His first full season as a starter came in 2017 when he posted of 3.49 over 163 IPs between Tampa Bay, Durham & Nashville before being traded to Texas near the end of August.
He went 0-4 with an 11 ER/9IP ratio over 9 starts for Texas leading some people to question if it was actually Yonny who had been traded that all cleared up however after audio from analytics company.
Statcast emerged showing no difference whatsoever between what pitchers looked like on film vs game footage during those starts his overall numbers were still very good though so.
In 2018 Yonny started off well enough once more posting a winning record through May but struggled down the stretch culminating into losing time out of games which caused him to miss much valuable playoff experience.
He bounced back nicely this past offseason however going 12-5 with a 2% WHIP throughout 200 IP across both AA&MLB ball currently sporting an impressive 3 yr / 137 qtr career ERA+.
36. Ryan Thompson
Pitcher
Ryan Thompson was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the second round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut with the Arizona Diamondbacks organizations in 2012, pitching for their Class A-Advanced and Double-A affiliates before being traded to Tampa Bay at the end of that year.
In 2016, Thompson became a full-time starter with Tampa Bay and posted an 8-7 record with a 3.86 ERA over 31 starts. In 2017 he had another solid season as a starting pitcher, posting a 13-11 record with a 2.92 ERA over 32 starts but missed time due to injury late in the campaign.
Ryan Thompson is slated to be one of several candidates for the fifth spot on Team USA's roster for next month's World Baseball Classic tournament Thompson was drafted in the second round of the 2020 MLB Draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Thompson made his debut with the Rays on July 24, 2020, against the Boston Red Sox. In total, Thompson has appeared in 97 games for Tampa Bay over two seasons. He has compiled a 7-7 record and an ERA of 3.50.
Thompson is known for being a solid innings eater who strikes out hitters at a high rate (99 strikeouts in 97 appearances).
Thompson is expected to be part of the Rays' starting rotation moving forward and could see even more playing time if injuries occur or he proves himself worthy during Spring Training next year.
37. Josh Fleming
Pitcher
Josh Fleming was born on May 18, 1996 in Bridgeton, Missouri. He attended the University of Missouri and played college baseball for the Mizzou Tigers. As a junior at Mizzou, he had an impressive season with a 3.29 ERA in 33 appearances (30 starts).
The Rays drafted him in the third round of the 2016 MLB Draft and he made his professional debut that year with their High-A affiliate, the Charlotte Stone Crabs.
In 2017, he spent time with both Tampa Bay's Double-A affiliate, Durham Bulls Athletic Club and Triple-A affiliate Nashville Sounds; posting ERAs of 4.06 and 5.12 respectively while pitching over 120 innings each campaign between those levels.
Fleming, as he finished fifth among American League pitchers with 10 wins while also recording 131 strikeouts across 143 innings, pitched split between Tampa Bay's two highest-level affiliates - Durham (134 2/3 IP) & Nashville (97 1/3 IP).
His dominance led to his selection as an All-Star by Baseball America; becoming just the second pitcher ever from Missouri chosen as part of that organization's annual team the other being Tyson Ross who was selected by Arizona Diamondbacks prior to playing one game for them during their inaugural 2013 season (.284 BA w/.386 OBP career hitter)).
Josh would make his major league debut on July 26th against Boston Red Sox would lose 8-7 despite giving up just three earned runs off 9 hits over 6 frames became the first Tiger since 2009 not named John Lackey or Zack Greinke to start Opening Day ML game).
Finished 0-1 w/#9 R/ER after allowing inherited runner score from Xander Bogaerts leading off bottom half inning) was relieved by Jake Odorizzi marked the only appearance out of the bullpen all year long due to the LHP usage pattern starting late.
April into early October when RHP Archer returned from Tommy John surgery) So far this campaign has started similarly posting a scoreless 7th inning before yielding a solo HR (#8 starter tonight vs Baltimore Orioles beginning 7:07 PM EST).
Then retiring the final 11 batters faced en route earning win against Toronto Blue Jays tm 9/13) ERA currently sits at 2nd lowest mark throughout their career trailing only 2017 when posted sub 3 ERA through the entire regular season (& playoffs too.).
38. Dioner Navarro
Catcher
Career
- All-Star (2008)
Dioner Navarro is a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays. He made his MLB debut with the New York Yankees in 2004 and has also played for the Angels, Dodgers, Astros, Cubs and Blue Jays over the course of his career.
Dioner's batting average is .250 but he has had some impressive offensive seasons including 2009 when he hit 22 home runs and drove in 101 RBIs while splitting time at first base between Double-A Tennessee and Triple-A Las Vegas.
In 2016 Dioner was released by the Toronto Blue Jays after appearing in just 31 games due to injury problems. However, he is now looking to get back into baseball shape and possibly play again next season as a backup catcher or DH if necessary.
Dioner Navarro is a right-handed batter and thrower who has played for the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Tampa Bay Devil Rays/Rays, Cincinnati Reds, and Chicago Cubs.
Dioner was drafted by the Yankees in the 7th round of the 2004 amateur draft. He made his big league debut with the Yankees on May 9th, 2006 against the Detroit Tigers playing 3 games at third base before being traded to LA Dodgers later that month where he would stay until 2010 when he was traded to Tampa Bay again.
Dioner had an exceptional season with Tampa Bay in 2009 batting .290 with 20 home runs and 94 RBIs en route earning him his first All-Star Game selection as well as Gold Glove honors at third base.
However, after just one year in Tampa Bay, he was dealt back to NYY only this time joining up with CC Sabathia and David Price leading them to their second World Series appearance which they eventually lost to St Louis Cardinals (2012).
Since then Dioner has bounced around between different teams including Cleveland Indians (2014), Boston Red Sox (2015) Toronto Blue Jays (2016) finally landing back on Chi town’s North Side where he will play out his career alongside.
Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo & Javier Baez starting from 2018 onwards – all while holding records for most hits ever by a Cuban-born player (.326); most doubles ever hit by a Cuban-born player (.356); highest slugging % achieved (.584) amongst these 4 players during their careers.
39. Manuel Margot
Outfielder
Margot is a 28-year-old center fielder for the Tampa Bay Rays. He was drafted 13th overall in the 2013 MLB Draft by the San Diego Padres and had a breakout season in 2018, batting .293 with 38 home runs and 111 RBIs.
Margot has spent his entire career to date with the Padres, making him one of only six players on their current roster who have been there since they were drafted.
His standout seasons came in 2016 and 2017 when he hit 34 homers combined and finished second and first respectively in MVP voting among National League outfielders.
Margot's speed allows him to steal bases (he has swiped 112 bags over his career) while also providing value at the plate with his consistent power output (.270+ each year).
In addition to playing defense, Margot is also an effective pinch hitter, having compiled a .308 batting average as a designated hitter during his career thus far.
Margot was born in 1994 which makes him just shy of turning 29 years old this offseason; age isn't really an issue for him as he continues to produce at both the major league level and internationally where he currently leads all.
Dominican Republic athletes with eight medals from world championships including two golds (2018 & 2019). While rumors persist that teams may be interested in trading for Margot before next season begins.
It appears likely that he'll remain part of the Rays' long-term plans moving forward - especially given how productive he has been recent despite being surrounded by more experienced teammates.
40. Tyler Glasnow
Pitcher
Glasnow is a 29-year-old right-handed pitcher with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was drafted by the Rays in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft and made his debut in 2015.
Glasnow has had success both as a starter and reliever, amassing a record of 82–60 with an ERA of 3.26 in 191 games (183 starts).
Glasnow's fastball tops out at 97 mph, but he also throws a hard slider and changeup which can be devastating when used correctly.
His control often wavers though, leading to high walk totals and home run rates; however, he has shown flashes of brilliance that have led him to being one of baseball's most highly coveted pitchers on the market.
As one half of arguably baseball's best young pitching duo alongside Chris Archer – who was acquired from Tampa Bay earlier this season – Glasnow is likely to continue making waves for many years to come if he can iron out some rough edges in his game.
41. Francisco Mejía
Catcher
Francisco Mejía was born on October 27, 1995 in Baní, Peravia, Dominican Republic. He is a catcher and played for the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2019 season.
Francisco Mejía has switch-hitting ability and batted .259 with three home runs and 16 RBIs in 119 games during his rookie campaign with the Rays. Francisco Mejía is a young player who continues to develop his skills at the professional level.
Look for him to continue improving as he moves forward in his career Francisco Mejía made his MLB debut on September 1st, 2017 for the Cleveland Indians. Mejía had a very successful rookie season in which he hit .241 with 24 home runs and 99 RBIs.
In 2020, the Padres traded Mejía to the Tampa Bay Rays where he has continued to be one of their most productive players. Francisco is signed through 2022 with the Rays and will likely remain there until at least 2024 if not longer.
42. Colin Poche
Pitcher
Colin Poche was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2nd round of the 2016 MLB Draft. In 2018, he made his major league debut with the Rays and had a 4-5 record with a 3.55 ERA in 18 games (14 starts).
He returned to the minors for 2019 and has since been traded to the Seattle Mariners. Poche is considered a lefty specialist who excels at limiting runs and strikeouts while keeping batters off balance with his unpredictable pitches Colin Poche was born on June 8, 1999, in Clinton, New York.
He attended the University of Connecticut where he played college baseball for the UConn Huskies. The Rays drafted him in the second round of the 2019 MLB Draft and he made his professional debut with them that same year.
In 22 games (20 starts) for Tampa Bay during his rookie season, Poche had a 9-7 record with an ERA of 4.32 and 136 strikeouts over 134 innings pitched.
In 2020, Poche split time between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham and improved statistically both years; posting a 13-9 record with an ERA below 3 each campaign while striking out more than 200 batters in each instance as well as compiling at least 2 wins in every month except December (1 win).
Poche began 2021 with Durham once again but was called up to Tampa Bay shortly after their first game of the season when Jake Odorizzi was placed on injured reserve due to right elbow inflammation; making his major league debut that night against Boston.
He would finish 0–1 with a 5 ER/9 IP effort despite issuing just 1 walk throughout 7 innings pitched the victory went to Miguel Andujar who hit two home runs off Jose Urena.
Poche's final outing before being optioned back down to Durham came on September 28th against Toronto when he allowed one unearned run over 6⅔ innings pitched in all 53 appearances across all levels this year.
Colin logged 39 starts allowing only 10 earned runs over 305⅓ total frames he struck out 131 hitters while walking only 21 after starting 20 games last season.
Colin Poche is a 24 yr old pitcher who was drafted by the Tampa bay rays in 2019 & has spent most of his career playing collegiate ball at UConn where hs won 2 conference championships & 2 national titles.
43. Shane Baz
Starting pitcher
Shane Baz was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft. Shane Baz made his MLB debut with the Rays on September 20, 2021. In 22 appearances (20 starts) for Tampa Bay, Baz has a 3-4 record and an ERA of 4.25.
Shane Baz is primarily a pitcher and throws from a right-handed perspective. As of May 2, 2022, Shane Baz had registered 131 strikeouts over 161 innings pitched in AAA baseball with Durham Bulls Athletic Club and Trenton Thunder Baseball Organization teams respectively.
Baz's nickname is "Shakey" due to his fastballs that can reach speeds up to 98 mph. In 2020, as an amateur ballplayer representing Cypress High School in Texas, Shane led his team to their second consecutive state championship game before losing 9-0 to Cedar Hill High School.
44. Drew Rasmussen
Pitcher
Drew Rasmussen was signed by the Tampa Bay Rays as an amateur free agent in 2016. He made his MLB debut with the Rays in 2018, pitching 5 innings and giving up 4 earned runs on 6 hits.
Rasmussen's fastball tops out at 97 mph and he also has a slider and changeup that can be effective off-speed weapons. The right-hander is currently part of the Triple-A Durham Bulls rotation where he has posted a 2.09 ERA over 29 appearances (24 starts).
Drew Rasmussen is a starting pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers. He was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fourth round of the 2020 MLB Draft.
Drew has a 16-8 record and an ERA of 3.03 in 22 starts with the Brewers thus far in his career. Drew throws a fastball, slider, and changeup which have all been effective against opposing hitters so far in his career.
Drew is known as one of the hardest workers on team and he's constantly trying to improve his game both on and off the field.
Also Played For: oregon state beavers baseball
45. Jose Siri
Outfielder
Jose Siri was born in the Dominican Republic and signed with the Rays as a free agent in 2017. He made his MLB debut that season and hit .228/.341/.362 in 116 games played.
In 2018, he slashed .264/.333/.457 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs over 136 games played for Tampa Bay. The 27-year old outfielder is coming off of a successful 2018 campaign where he was one of the team's most consistent hitters both at the plate and on defense.
Jose Siri will be an important part of manager Kevin Cash's plans moving forward, especially considering his ability to play all three outfield positions well. Jose Siri was drafted by the Houston Astros in the 20th round of the 2021 MLB draft. Jose Siri made his debut for the Astros on September 3, 2021.
In 22 games with the Astros, he hit .225 with 11 home runs and 33 RBIs. Jose Siri played with Tampa Bay from 2022 to the present day.
46. Christian Bethancourt
First baseman
Christian Bethancourt made his MLB debut in 2013 with the Atlanta Braves. In 2019, he was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays and played for them that year before being traded to the NC Dinos of Japan's NPB league.
Bethancourt is a catcher/first baseman/outfielder who has spent most of his career playing in the majors but has also played in Korea's KBO League.
Christian Bethancourt is considered an above-average defender with good bat speed and power potential, making him a potentially valuable player on any team.
Bethancourt is a left-handed hitter who has played for the Atlanta Braves, San Diego Padres, and NC Dinos over the past three seasons. Bethancourt had an impressive rookie campaign with the Braves in 2013 where he hit .246 with 19 home runs and 80 RBIs.
The following year saw Bethancourt struggle a bit but still manage to drive in 29 runs while hitting .234 overall.
In 2016, Bethancourth finally got his breakout season when he batted .246 with 8 home runs and 29 RBIs in just 78 games played for the Padres before being traded to the NC Dinos at the trade deadline.
In 2019, Bethancourt led all KBO hitters by batting an astonishingly high .246 with 5 home runss and 28 RBIs while playing 81 games for the Oakland Athletics (who acquired him from San Diego).
He was then traded to Tampa Bay prior to their inaugural season in 2020 where he will continue his career as an outfielder/first baseman on this team through 2022.
Also Played For: little league world series
47. Isaac Paredes
Infielder
Paredes was signed by the Tampa Bay Rays as a minor leaguer in March of 2018. He made his MLB debut with the Rays on July 2nd, 2018 against the Boston Red Sox.
In that game, he went 1-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored. Paredes spent most of the 2018 season with Triple-A Durham where he hit .278/.368/.451 with 10 home runs and 59 RBIs in 133 games played.
Before signing with the Rays, Paredes played for AZL Mariners (2017), Navegantes del Magallanes (2016), and Toros de Tijuana (2015).
Isaac is from Hermosillo, Mexico which is located in northeastern Sonora state just north of the Arizona border Isaac Paredes is a 24-year-old outfielder who has played for the Detroit Tigers and Tampa Bay Rays in the past two seasons.
He was drafted by the Tigers in 2013 and made his major league debut with them that year. In 2016, he won a Gold Glove Award as an American League center fielder with the Tigers.
In 2018, he signed with the Rays as a free agent and had a breakout season, batting .286 with 22 home runs and 56 RBIs. Isaac Paredes is known for his speed on defense; according to MLB Statcast data, he has been one of the fastest players in baseball over the last three years (2015-2017).
He will be playing at Tropicana Field this season for Tampa Bay after they acquired him from Detroit in exchange for veteran third baseman Mike Moustakas earlier this offseason.
48. Pete Fairbanks
Relief pitcher
Pete Fairbanks was drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2nd round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He made his professional debut with the Bowling Green Hot Rods in 2014 and pitched for them until 2017.
In 2018, he signed a minor league contract with the Texas Rangers and made his major league debut that season. He has since played for the Rays (2019-present), Rangers (2018-19) and Brewers (2017).
Pete Fairbanks was born on September 10, 1992, in the town of Hudson, Massachusetts. He attended high school at Deerfield Academy and then went on to play college baseball for Northeastern University.
After his college career was over, Pete signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent in 2018. In 2019, he made his MLB debut with the Rangers and has been playing ever since. Pete is known for being an effective hitter who can hit for both power and average.
He has played alongside some of the best players in baseball including Joey Gallo, Rougned Odor and Adrian Beltre so far in his career. The future looks bright for Pete Fairbanks - he's just getting started.
49. Mike Zunino
Catcher
Career
- All-Star (2021), Golden Spikes Award (2012), Dick Howser Trophy (2012)
Mike Zunino is a highly-touted catcher prospect who has spent his entire career with the Seattle Mariners. He was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the first round of the 2009 MLB Draft, but he opted not to sign and instead attend college at Florida State University.
After four years with FSU, Zunino was selected by the Mariners in the second round of the 2013 MLB Draft and made his debut that year. Injuries have been an issue for Mike Zunino throughout his career; however, he is still only 31 years old so there's still time for him to rebound from any struggles he might experience moving forward.
His defensive skills are well-known, as are his power abilities – which have led many experts to compare him to current stars like Buster Posey and Yadier Molina (who both played behind him on their teams).
It will be interesting to see how Mike Zunino performs over this next season – especially considering that new management has taken over in Seattle during 2019.
50. Luis Patiño
Pitcher
Luis Patiño made his MLB debut with the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018. He is 23 years old and a right-handed pitcher. In 2017, he had a breakout season pitching for the Durham Bulls of the Triple-A International League, posting a 2.98 ERA and 269 strikeouts over 191 innings pitched.
Patiño was drafted by the Rays in the first round of the 2016 MLB amateur draft out of Barranquilla University in Colombia after impressing teams. With his fastball velocity (97 mph) and slider usage on film scouts during his collegiate career at Barranquilla University.
Where he finished third among all Colombian players in voting for the best player during their national championship run that year as well as being named MVP of their junior league campaign that same year.
After signing with Tampa Bay, Patiño made his professional debut with them throwing one inning against Atlanta Braves Minor League affiliate Danville Braves on April 27th.
Before being promoted to Double-A Montgomery Biscuits where he posted an 8–1 record including 1 complete game en route to finishing fourth in American Association Pitcher of Year voting.
While leading both leagues with 164 strikeouts over 127 innings pitched between both levels combined prior to making his major league debut this past season.
51. Jonathan Aranda
Jonathan Aranda was drafted in the first round (No. 10 overall) of the 2018 MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. He is a left-handed infielder and played for Tijuana in Mexico's Serie National Baseball League before being signed by the Rays.
Jonathan has an impressive batting average of .290 with nine home runs and 54 RBIs in just 94 games played this season, earning him MVP honors as Tijuana finished second in their league.
In 2017, he hit .297 with 15 home runs and 68 RBIs while playing for Class A Advanced Visalia Oaks of the California League, making him one of only six players to hit at least 15 homers and steal 65 bases combined in two seasons since 2015.
Jonathan is also known for his strong throwing arm which has been compared to that of former Ray Evan Longoria (#3 on this list). His throws have ranged from 98 mph to 104 mph according to Fangraphs., which could make him an asset off the bench or even take over as a closer if needed down the road.
Final Words
The Tampa Bay Rays are a professional baseball team based in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Rays compete in the American League East division of the Major League Baseball (MLB) league and have played their home games at Tropicana Field since 1998.
