Twins 8, Rays 2
APRIL 2, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
TAMPA BAY RAYS 80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
80-82 · 4TH IN AL EAST
Mike Zunino - Returns to lineup Zunino (shoulder) is starting Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Zunino hasn't seen any game action since Tuesday due to shoulder inflammation, but he resumed baseball activities Friday. His uptick in activity apparently went well, as the 31-year-old will serve as the designated hitter and bat second in Saturday's spring matchup.
APRIL 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Jason Adam - Having impressive spring Adam threw a scoreless inning with three strikeouts in Friday's spring training win over Boston. "(He) continues to impress," manager Kevin Cash told the Tampa Bay Times. "The fast...
Impact Adam is making a strong case to win a bullpen job with six strikeouts, two walks and two runs allowed in four innings this spring. He's competing for a final spot in the bullpen against Colin Poche and Ryan Thompson.
APRIL 2, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Adam opens eyes with nasty showing vs. Red Sox PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Right-hander Jason Adam was a late addition to the Rays’ roster, signing a split contract on March 17, but he has ma...
APRIL 1, 2022 • MLB.COM
Mike Zunino confident he'll be ready to join Rays for opener Notes | Rest should be enough to get the catcher’s shoulder feeling better; Ryan Yarbrough works into the fifth inning.
APRIL 1, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM
Rays 9, Red Sox 3
APRIL 1, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mike King credits Corey Kluber's slider and friendship for his improvement Kluber, who is now with the American League East rival Rays, taught King how to throw his “slider.”
APRIL 1, 2022 • MCALL.COM
Mike Zunino - On track for Opening Day Zunino was diagnosed with shoulder inflammation and will resume baseball activities Friday. He is "confident" he'll be available for Opening Day next week, Marc Topkin of the Tampa...
Impact Manager Kevin Cash said Thursday that Zunino has been dealing with a "cranky shoulder," though it appears to be a minor concern since there's no structural damage. The 31-year-old has been out of Grapefruit League action since Tuesday, but his return to baseball activities Friday should allow him to rejoin the lineup relatively soon, assuming he avoids a setback.
APRIL 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Austin Meadows - Playing left field Friday Meadows (oblique) is starting in left field and batting sixth in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins.
Impact Meadows missed a few days of Grapefruit League action with the oblique injury, but he served as the designated hitter in Thursday's contest and has been cleared to play the outfield Friday. Manager Kevin Cash declared it a minor injury, and the 26-year-old's quick return backs up that claim. Barring a setback, Meadows should be ready to go for Opening Day.
APRIL 1, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rays' Mike Zunino sidelined with 'cranky shoulder' Notes | Veteran catcher is said to “be okay” and the team hopes he is ready for the opener; prospect Josh Lowe is sent down.
MARCH 31, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM
Rays' remaining decisions? To get some relief With the opener a week away, filling three spots in a 10-man bullpen seems all that’s left to do, with the rest of the roster set, barring i...
MARCH 31, 2022 • TAMPABAY.COM
Rays 5, Braves 1
MARCH 31, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Mike Zunino - Shoulder acts up Rays manager Kevin Cash said Thursday that Zunino is dealing with a "cranky shoulder," but the team is hopeful it won't affect the catcher's availability for Opening Day, Marc Topk...
Impact Zunino likely picked up the injury at some point during his most recent Grapefruit League appearance against the Twins on Tuesday, when he went 0-for-2 with a walk. Cash said he expects Zunino to pick up some at-bats by Saturday, though it's unclear if the 31-year-old will take his swings in a spring game or live batting practice. At this stage, the shoulder issue doesn't look to be anything that will force Zunino to go on the injured list, but those invested in the backstop will still want to keep an eye on his status.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Joe Hudson - Sent out of big-league camp The Rays reassigned Hudson to minor-league camp Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Even with MLB teams getting 28 active roster spots until May 1 due to the delayed start to spring training, the Rays weren't inclined to keep Hudson around as their No. 3 catcher behind Mike Zunino and Francisco Mejia. Hudson is expected to begin the campaign at Triple-A Durham and will likely serve as organizational catching depth for the entire season.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Josh Lowe - Optioned to Triple-A Lowe was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Lowe was competing for a depth role in Tampa Bay's outfield this spring, but he'll report to the minors to begin the year after he hit .190 with two RBI, a stolen base and six strikeouts in eight Grapefruit League games this spring. However, he'll likely be in consideration for a major-league roster spot at some point in 2022 as long as he performs well in Durham.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Pete Fairbanks - Receives injection Fairbanks will receive a PRP injection to address his torn lat muscle, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Fairbanks has been shut down from throwing for six weeks and isn't expected to return to the active roster until July. The Rays will likely continue to plan their bullpen around high-leverage situations rather than traditional roles, but Fairbanks' absence leaves Andrew Kittredge looking more alone than expected as a top-tier option for the late innings.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Austin Meadows - Back in lineup as DH Meadows (oblique) will bat fifth while serving as Tampa Bay's designated hitter in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Impact Manager Kevin Cash acknowledged Wednesday that Meadows was dealing with only a minor oblique injury, and the 26-year-old's inclusion in the lineup a day later seemingly backs up the skipper's comments. The Rays will ease Meadows back into the starting nine in a non-defensive role, but if all goes well Thursday, he could be cleared to pick up a start in the outfield before spring training comes to a close.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Kevin Kiermaier - Back in lineup Kiermaier (groin) will start in center field and bat eighth in Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Impact Kiermaier was scratched from the Rays' spring lineup last Friday due to a sore left groin, but after resuming workouts without any major discomfort in the last few days, he'll be making his return to the starting nine less than a week after the injury first surfaced. The 31-year-old is expected to open the campaign as the Rays' primary center fielder, though he'll likely sit at least occasionally against left-handed starting pitchers.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Ryan Thompson - Could make spring debut Thompson (shoulder) is listed among Tampa Bay's available relievers for Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Thompson, whose 2021 campaign came to an early end when he underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery in September, has been brought along slowly in camp, but he looks as though he'll have a chance at earning a spot in the Rays' Opening Day bullpen. He made his spring debut last Friday, working an inning and giving up one run on one hit and one walk in a game against the Orioles. Thompson apparently checked out fine during that outing, and it looks like he'll be ready to make his second Grapefruit League appearance Thursday. The right-hander still has three minor-league options remaining, so the Rays could choose to send him to one of their affiliates early in the season if they want to give him more time to shake off the rust following surgery.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Luis Patiño - Cleared to start Patino (shoulder) will start Thursday's Grapefruit League game against Atlanta, David O'Brien of The Athletic reports.
Impact Patino was scratched from his previous spring start March 22 on account of a sore right shoulder, but he was cleared to resume throwing soon thereafter and received the green light to pitch Thursday following a pair of bullpen sessions along with a live batting practice session. Since he wasn't shut down while he dealt with the injury, Patino looks as though he's still on track to break camp as a member of the Tampa Bay rotation.
MARCH 31, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
No joking (well, a little), Corey Kluber will be a help to Rays' staff PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — There are times, highly placed sources have confirmed under promise of anonymity, when Corey Kluber occasionally will...
MARCH 30, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Orioles 7, Rays 6
MARCH 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Pete Fairbanks - Likely out at least three months Fairbanks has a 50 percent tear of his lat muscle and will likely be forced to miss at least three months, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact The Rays announced Monday that Fairbanks would face a shutdown of at least six weeks due to his lat injury, and he'll require at least six additional weeks to build up once he's cleared to resume throwing. As a result, the right-hander will likely be out until at least July. It wouldn't be surprising to see Fairbanks land on the 60-day injured list to begin the regular season.
MARCH 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Confident Rays aiming to finally clear World Series hurdle
The young, hungry Tampa Bay Rays have done quite a job building expectationsMARCH 30, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Vidal Bruján - Denied spot on Opening Day roster The Rays optioned Brujan to minor-league camp Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Given that he turned in a lowly .154 OPS in 26 plate appearances in his first taste of the big leagues in 2021 before finishing the season at Triple-A Durham, Brujan's demotion comes as little surprise. The toolsy, switch-hitting 24-year-old remains one of the Rays' top prospects and likely doesn't need much further refinement in the minors, but Tampa Bay's wealth of infield and outfield talent may force Brujan to wait a little longer before getting his next trial with the big club. If he's able to take hold of a regular role with Tampa Bay at some point in 2022, Brujan would offer intriguing stolen-base upside, after swiping 44 bags in 52 attempts at Triple-A last season.
MARCH 30, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
