FRANCISCO MEJÍA NEWS

Playing time on rise Mejia will start at catcher and bat ninth Wednesday against the Astros.

Impact With the Rays having secured the best record in the American League, manager Kevin Cash is expected to rest several regulars over the final week of the season, including No. 1 catcher Mike Zunino. As a result of Zunino getting more frequent days off of late, Mejia has picked up more work. He'll pick up his fourth start in six games after going 4-for-10 with two doubles, a walk, two RBI and two runs in his previous three starts.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Starting again Monday Mejia will start at catcher and bat ninth Monday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Despite going 0-for-9 over his last three games, Mejia will stick behind the plate for the third time in four contests. Mejia appears to have moved into a timeshare at catcher with Mike Zunino, and the two could continue to split starts in relatively even fashion for the remainder of the campaign.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Overcomes shoulder issue Rays manager Kevin Cash said that Mejia (shoulder) will be available off the bench for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports.

Impact Though top backstop Mike Zunino will remain behind the dish Wednesday, the Rays' decision not to add another catcher to the 28-man active roster for the series finale in Boston implies confidence in Mejia's health. A bruised right shoulder has kept Mejia on the bench for two straight games, but Cash said the 25-year-old could re-enter the lineup Friday in Detroit.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Remains on bench Mejia (shoulder) isn't starting Wednesday's game against the Red Sox, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Impact Mejia will take a seat for a second straight game with Mike Zunino starting at catcher and batting ninth. However, the 25-year-old said he felt better Tuesday, so it wouldn't be surprising to see him available off the bench in Wednesday's series finale.

SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not in Tuesday's lineup Mejia (shoulder) isn't starting Tuesday's game against the Red Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia started Monday's game but was removed from the game due to a right shoulder contusion after he was hit by a foul tip. Although Mike Zunino will start behind the dish, Mejia is reportedly feeling "a lot better" Tuesday, so he could be available off the bench.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Feeling better after early exit Mejia was feeling "a lot better" after receiving ice and treatment following an early exit from Monday's extra-inning win over the Red Sox stemming from taking a foul tip off his r...

Impact The young backstop sustained the blow in the sixth inning off the bat of J.D. Martinez and only managed to remain in the contest through the end of that half-inning. However, manager Kevin Cash's report concerning Mejia's improving condition following the game was certainly encouraging and supports the notion the 25-year-old could be available at any point beginning with Tuesday's contest against Boston.

SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with bruised shoulder Mejia was removed from Monday's game against Boston due to a right shoulder contusion, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia went 0-for-3 before being lifted for a pinch hitter during the seventh inning. The 25-year-old should be considered day-to-day until the team updates his status.

SEPTEMBER 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Clutch three-run shot Mejia went 2-for-4 with a three-run home run Wednesday against the Phillies.

Impact Mejia came to the plate with the game tied at four in the ninth inning and delivered his sixth home run of the season to put the Rays in the lead. Though he gets only sporadic playing time, Mejia has at least one hit in eight of his last 10 appearances, including two doubles, one home run, eight RBI and six runs scored. For the season, he a .267/.326/.446 line across 222 plate appearances.

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Mejia's 3-run homer in 9th leads Rays past skidding Phillies

Francisco Mejia hit a tiebreaking three-run homer in the ninth inning, Brandon Lowe connected for his 30th of the season and the AL-East leading Tampa Bay Rays beat the slumping Ph...

AUGUST 26, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Knocks three-run double Mejia went 2-for-4 with a three-run double in Sunday's 9-0 win over the White Sox.

Impact Mejia drilled a clutch three-run double in the sixth inning to give the Rays a huge 6-0 lead. It was just his third extra-base hit this month and his first RBI since Aug. 10. He's sporting a .752 OPS with 28 RBI through 218 plate appearances.

AUGUST 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Pops fifth homer Mejia went 2-for-4 with a home run and four RBI in Saturday's 9-5 win over the Red Sox.

Impact His big blow was a two-run shot off Nathan Eovaldi in the fourth inning. Mejia has two of his five homers on the season in his last six starts, a stretch during which he's batting .364 (8-for-22) with two triples, six runs and nine RBI. Mike Zunino has started five games during that time and gone just 3-for-17 (.176) with a solo shot, and the playing time mix could tip further in Mejia's favor over the final two months if the gap between their respective productions remains that wide.

AUGUST 1, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Laces another triple Mejia went 1-for-4 with a triple and a run in an extra-inning win over Cleveland on Thursday.

Impact Mejia continues to capitalize on a rare string of successive starts due to the absence of Mike Zunino (hip), with Thursday's production pushing his average over the last five games to a blistering .438 (7-for-16). The reserve backstop's three-bagger was just an extension of a favorable pattern of putting very good wood on the ball -- four of Mejia's seven hits during the aforementioned span have now gone for extra bases. Although the Associated Press reports Zunino wanted to play Thursday but was overruled by manager Kevin Cash in favor of one more day of rest, Mejia may have earned himself at least a slight uptick in playing time going forward with his recent performances.

JULY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Scores twice in win Mejia went 2-for-4 with two runs in a win over the Orioles on Wednesday.

Impact The reserve backstop drew another start for Mike Zunino (hip) and once again came through at the plate. Mejia has now hit safely in four straight games (three starts), quickly pushing his average and OPS up by 20 and 62 points, respectively.

JULY 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Drives in five in win Mejia went 2-for-4 with a triple, a home run, two runs scored and five RBI in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Orioles.

Impact The catcher launched a two-run shot off John Means in the fourth inning, then added some insurance with a bases-loaded triple in the eighth off Shaun Anderson. Mejia's outburst was either shocking or long overdue, depending on your perspective -- he hadn't gone yard since May 23 and hadn't even collected an RBI since June 22. On the season, he's slashing .255/.317/.416 with four homers and 19 RBI through 50 games.

JULY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Makes noise out of bottom of order Mejia went 2-for-3 with two doubles and a run in a loss to the Blue Jays on Friday.

Impact The reserve backstop came through at the plate yet again in another spot start, forging the only multi-hit effort of the night for the Rays. Mejia has now hit safely in four of the last five starts, and while his .256/.317/.388 slash line is uninspiring overall, it's arguably serviceable for a backup catcher, especially when considering one-third of his 33 hits have gone for extra bases (eight doubles, three home runs).

JULY 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Continues hitting in loss Mejia went 2-for-3 with an RBI single in a loss to the Red Sox on Tuesday.

Impact Mejia snapped an 0-for-8 skid that had encompassed his last three games with Tuesday's production, which pushed his season average back up to .246. The reserve backstop has been a reasonably effective performer in clutch situations, posting a serviceable .259/.323/.444 slash line over 32 plate appearances with runners in scoring position.

JUNE 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

On base thrice in win Mejia went 2-for-3 with a walk and a run in a win over the Orioles on Sunday.

Impact The backup catcher snapped out of a brief two-game slump with Sunday's multi-hit effort, his first since May 23. Mejia has proven reasonably productive with his opportunities thus far this season, posting a .252/.319/.393 slash line with nine extra-base hits and 13 RBI over 120 plate appearances, figures he's complemented with a modest 17.5 percent strikeout rate, the lowest of his career.

JUNE 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Out of lineup once again Mejia is not in the starting lineup for Monday's game against the Yankees, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mike Zunino appears to be manager Kevin Cash's preferred option behind the dish, at least for the time being. Monday will mark the fourth time in the last five games that Mejia is not in the starting nine.

MAY 31, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Not starting Sunday Mejia is out of the lineup Sunday versus the Phillies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia will head to the bench for the third time in the past four games Sunday. Mike Zunino receives another start behind the plate for the Rays.

MAY 30, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Remains on bench Mejia will sit for the second straight day Thursday against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia and Mike Zunino have split time very evenly this season when both have been healthy, so the fact that Zunino has now started three times in four games doesn't necessarily indicate a shift in the balance between the pair. Mejia owns a career-best .784 OPS so far this year, though Zunino has outperformed him, posting an .869 OPS, another career best.

MAY 27, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Wednesday Mejia is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Royals, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia heads to the bench while he and Mike Zunino alternate turns behind the dish for the sixth game in a row. Both catchers have been exceptionally productive with the bat this season, so expect a fairly even timeshare at catcher to remain in place for the foreseeable future.

MAY 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting Monday Mejia is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia was behind the dish for the Rays' 6-4 win Sunday afternoon and enjoyed another productive day at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a solo home run. The 25-year-old has left the yard in both of his past two starts to improve his OPS to .807 on the season, but he's still stuck in a timeshare with the similarly productive Mike Zunino (.904 OPS), who will catch Monday's series finale.

MAY 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Ends long night in grand fashion Mejia went 1-for-4 with two walks and a grand slam in Friday's 9-7 extra-innings win over the Blue Jays.

Impact His second homer of the season came in dramatic fashion as he drove a Jeremy Beasley offering over the fence in right field with the bases loaded in the 12th inning to break open a 5-5 tie. Mejia hadn't driven in a run since April 21, and the catcher is slashing only .185/.353/.296 through 34 plate appearances in May even after Friday's heroics.

MAY 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Heads to bench Mejia will sit Tuesday against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Impact Mejia returned from an intercostal strain Sunday and started right away, but he won't be in the lineup on an everyday basis. He and Mike Zunino split time behind the plate fairly evenly prior to Mejia's injury and will continue to do so going forward.

MAY 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE

Back on active roster Mejia (ribs) was activated from the 10-day injured list Sunday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.

Impact Mejia reported significant improvement with his left intercostal strain and will end up returning after the minimum. Kevan Smith was designated for assignment. A top prospect in the Cleveland and San Diego systems, Mejia has failed to live up to that billing, but he's off to a great start this season (.300/.348/.450) and should slot back in to the No. 1 catcher role for Tampa Bay.

MAY 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE