Keller expected to start for the Royals against Rays
The Rays are expected to send Rich Hill to the mound Tuesday and the Royals plan to give Brad Keller the startMAY 25, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
JI MAN CHOI
Rays don’t expect knee soreness to keep Ji-Man Choi out Rays notes | The first baseman left Monday’s game but should be fine. Also, the team will enjoy relaxed COVID-19 protocols.
MAY 25, 2021 • TAMPABAY.COM
Not expected to miss time Choi (knee) isn't expected to miss any additional time, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Choi was removed from Monday's game against Toronto with right knee soreness, but manager Kevin Cash didn't sound too concerned about the issue after the contest. Even though Choi underwent surgery on the same knee in late March, his soreness is unlikely to have a significant impact on his availability.
MAY 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Rays win 11th in a row, score 7 in 11th to beat Toronto 14-8
Francisco Mejía hit a tiebreaking, two-run single during a seven-run burst in the 11th inning and the Tampa Bay Rays won their 11th straight game, outlasting the Toronto Blue Jays...MAY 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Exits with sore knee Choi left Monday's game against the Blue Jays with a sore right knee, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He drew a pair of walks and scored once across his two plate appea...
Impact Choi underwent surgery on the same knee in late March, so this could be a more concerning issue than most cases of knee soreness. If he's forced to miss an extended period, Mike Brosseau could see an increased role at first base.
MAY 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Fans energizing Rays, Choi: 'Different vibe' Ji-Man Choi had longed to hear it again: the crowd chanting his name in the form of three staccato syllables. “Ji! Man! Choi! Ji! Man! Choi!...
MAY 24, 2021 • MLB.COM
Rays rally with 5 walks in 9th, top Jays for 10th win in row
Austin Meadows, Manuel Margot and Mike Brosseau drew consecutive bases-loaded walks with two outs in the ninth inning and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for their 10th straight win, be...MAY 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Walls 2 doubles in debut, Rays beat Jays for 9th win in row
Taylor Walls hit a pair of doubles in his major league debut and the Tampa Bay Rays won their ninth straight game, 3-1 over the Toronto Blue JaysMAY 23, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Slugs second homer Choi went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in an extra-innings win over the Blue Jays on Friday.
Impact Choi came on as a pinch hitter for Mike Brosseau and ended up logging four plate appearances, with his sixth-inning two-run blast tying the game at 5-5 until the 12th frame. Choi has made the most of his delayed season debut, hitting safely in each of his first five games and quickly racking up eight RBI with the help of a pair of round trippers.
MAY 22, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Mejía hits grand slam in 12th, Rays beat Blue Jays 9-7
Francisco Mejía hit a grand slam in the 12th inning and the Tampa Bay Rays won their eighth consecutive game by beating the Toronto Blue Jays 9-7MAY 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
On base four times in win Choi went 1-for-3 with an RBI single and three walks in a win over the Orioles on Thursday.
Impact Choi has gotten his 2021 season off to an incandescent start, hitting safely in all four games while going 7-for-13 with a double, a home run, six RBI and four walks. The 30-year-old's torrid pace will naturally slow some as the sample grows, but Choi's encouraging start is a reward for fantasy managers that patiently waited matters out while he overcame a knee injury.
MAY 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Plates two runs as pinch hitter Choi went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored in Wednesday's win over the Orioles.
Impact Choi entered the game as a pinch hitter in the top of the seventh and made his presence felt right away, scoring Kevin Kiermaier with an RBI single off Adam Plutko, and he later added another RBI single off Paul Fry in the eighth, scoring Willy Adames that time. Choi has played just three games but has made a huge impact for Tampa Bay at the plate, going 6-for-10 with two extra-base hits, five RBI and four runs scored in that span.
MAY 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Arozarena's two home runs help Rays rally past Orioles, 9-7
Randy Arozarena hit two home runs, stole another with his glove and knocked in four runs, Ji-Man Choi drove in the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied...MAY 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ji-Man Choi - Tampa Bay Rays - 1B - Stats, News, Career Info Ji-Man Choi - #26 - First Baseman - Tampa Bay Rays - Get the latest news, highlights, and career stats for Ji-Man Choi from CBSSports.com.
MAY 20, 2021 • SCOUT.COM
Sitting against lefty Choi is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Orioles, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Impact Choi will be one of several left-handed hitters heading to the bench Wednesday with southpaw John Means on the bump for the Orioles. Yandy Diaz will start at first base and Francisco Mejia will serve as the designated hitter with Choi out of the lineup.
MAY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Continues strong start Choi went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and a walk during Tuesday's 13-6 win at Baltimore.
Impact The 30-year-old returned from the injured list over the weekend and has provided an immediate boost to Tampa Bay's lineup. Choi is 4-for-8 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs through his first two games of 2021.
MAY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Zunino, Rays hit 5 HRs, blast Orioles 13-6 to win 5th in row
Mike Zunino hit two home runs and the Tampa Bay Rays connected five times in all, hammering the Baltimore Orioles 13-6 Tuesday night for their fifth straight winMAY 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Records three hits Choi went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and a run scored in Sunday's win over the Mets.
Impact Choi spent the first weeks of the season on the injured list and was on the bench Saturday, so this was his 2021 debut, and it couldn't have gone much better. The first baseman should be a regular name in the Rays' lineup going forward as long as he remains healthy, and he will look to bounce back from a poor 2020 season in which he hit only .230 with three homers, 16 RBI and a .741 OPS across 145 plate appearances.
MAY 17, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Margot, Adames, Lowe lead Rays over Mets 7-1 for sweep
Manuel Margot, Willy Adames and Brandon Lowe homered off Marcus Stroman, leading the Tampa Bay Rays over the New York Mets 7-1for a three-game sweepMAY 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Notes: Ji-Man in lineup; Mejía activated Three hours before the Rays’ 42nd game of the season, Ji-Man Choi admitted he was “kind of nervous.” Sunday was his Opening Day, after all....
MAY 16, 2021 • MLB.COM
Dodgers acquire Yoshitomo Tsutsugo from Tampa Bay
The Los Angeles Dodgers acquired infielder Yoshitomo Tsutsugo from the Tampa Bay Rays for a player to be named or cashMAY 16, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Wendle hits 3 of Tampa Bay's 8 doubles, Rays beat Mets 12-5
Joey Wendle hit three doubles and a single, keying two big innings that sent the Tampa Bay Rays past the New York Mets 12-5MAY 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Activated, on bench Choi was activated from the injured list Saturday, but he is not in the starting lineup, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Choi will be activated from the injured list for the first time this season, though he'll have to wait for his first start. That is likely to come Sunday with right-hander Marcus Stroman projected to be on the mound for the Mets. Yandy Diaz is starting at first base and batting third for the Rays on Saturday.
MAY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Closing in on return Choi (knee) is feeling better and is close to returning, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Choi has been sidelined for the entire season after undergoing a knee scope in late March. He's continued to deal with soreness while rehabbing, but he has apparently made enough progress that his return is now imminent.
MAY 15, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Tampa Bay hosts New York, aims to build on Glasnow's solid outing
Tampa Bay looks to follow up a strong showing by Friday starter Tyler GlasnowMAY 15, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
