MARCH 20, 2022 • MLB.COM
TAYLOR WALLS #6 - SHORTSTOP - TAMPA BAY RAYS
1 HR •
14 RBI •
.183 AVG
1 HR
14 RBI
.183 AVG
Walls preparing to step up at (fill in the blank) FORT MYERS, Fla. -- When the Rays traded Joey Wendle to the Marlins on Nov. 30, two competing thoughts raced through Taylor Walls ’ mind. Fi...
Rays rookie INF Wander Franco returns from hamstring injury
Tampa Bay Rays rookie Wander Franco has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list after missing two weeks with a right hamstring injurySEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Heads to minors The Rays optioned Walls to Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Walls hit .205 with no extra-base hits and two RBI after being called up at the start of September, and now he loses his roster spot as Wander Franco (hamstring) returns from the injured list. Barring other injuries on the big-league roster, it's unlikely Walls gets called up again this year, and a spot on Tampa Bay's ALDS roster seems similarly unrealistic.
SEPTEMBER 24, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Kiermaier hit after scouting report flap; Rays to playoffs
Kevin Kiermaier was hit by a pitch after scooping up a Toronto scouting report two days earlier, and the Tampa Bay Rays clinched a postseason berth with a 7-1 victory over the Blue...SEPTEMBER 22, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Takes seat Tuesday Walls is not starting Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact The infielder singled and scored while starting at shortstop in Monday's win, but he'll retreat back to the bench for Game 2 of the series. Joey Wendle draws the start at shortstop while Yandy Diaz mans the hot corner Tuesday.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Singles in return to action Walls (illness) went 1-for-4 with a run during a win over the Blue Jays on Monday in his return from a one-game absence.
Impact The rookie also struck out on all three occasions in which he made an out, underscoring how much of a work in progress he still is against big-league arms. Walls hasn't generated an extra-base hit in his last 19 games at the major-league level, either, but the reps he's logging against the highest caliber of pitching is likely to pay off down the line.
SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Shane Baz wins MLB debut, Rays cut Blue Jays' wild-card lead
Shane Baz pitched two-hit ball for five innings to win his major league debut and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays cut Toronto’s lead in the wild-card chase, holding off the Blue...SEPTEMBER 21, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Back in action Walls (illness) will start Monday's game against Toronto, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact Walls was scratched Saturday due to illness and didn't play in Sunday's contest, but his illness evidently wasn't a particularly severe one, as he's already set to return to action. He'll bat eighth and play shortstop.
SEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Ray scheduled to start for Blue Jays at Rays
The Blue Jays will start Robbie Ray on Monday while the Rays are expected to counter with Shane BazSEPTEMBER 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Not starting Sunday Walls (illness) is out of the lineup Sunday against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Walls was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to an illness, and he'll remain on the bench for Sunday's contest. The 25-year-old is apparently dealing with a non-COVID-19 illness and should be considered day-to-day. Joey Wendel will remain at shortstop while Yandy Diaz starts at the hot corner.
SEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
McClanahan expected to start for Tampa Bay against Detroit
The Rays will roll out Shane McClanahan to the mound Sunday and the Tigers will give Wily Peralta the startSEPTEMBER 19, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Candelario and Garneau homer, Tigers beat Rays 4-3
Jeimer Candelario and Dustin Garneau homered as the Detroit Tigers beat the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays 4-3SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Scratched with illness Walls was scratched from the lineup for Saturday's game against the Tigers due to illness, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Walls hasn't been placed on the COVID-19 injured list, so there's yet to be any indication that this is anything other than a normal sickness. Joey Wendle will take over at shortstop.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Rays place CF Kevin Kiermaier on COVID-19 related IL
The AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays placed center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on the COVID-19 related IL due to general illness symptoms and selected the contract of right-hander Joey K...SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
On base thrice in win Walls went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run in an extra-inning win over the Tigers on Friday.
Impact The rookie was able to make an impact through some solid plate discipline, reaching safely for the fifth time in his last six major-league starts. Walls boasts a .385 on-base percentage that's largely the byproduct of a 19.2 percent walk rate over his last eight games, a sample that also includes a cameo as a defensive replacement where he didn't log a plate appearance and a hitless pinch-hit at-bat.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Phillips homers in 10th as Rays rally to beat Tigers 7-4
Brett Phillips hit a three-run homer in the 10th inning and the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays came back from a three-run deficit in the ninth to beat the Detroit Tigers 7-4SEPTEMBER 18, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Takes seat Thursday Walls isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers, radio broadcaster Steve Carney reports.
Impact Walls went 1-for-3 with a run and a strikeout Wednesday but will be out of the lineup for the second time in the last three games. Joey Wendle will shift to shortstop while Yandy Diaz starts at third base.
SEPTEMBER 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Sitting Tuesday Walls is not starting Tuesday against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Walls has gone 2-for-9 with three walks, a run scored and a stolen base while starting the previous three games after being recalled Saturday. Joey Wendle shifts to shortstop Tuesday as Yandy Diaz slots in at the hot corner.
SEPTEMBER 14, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Hot in first two games back Walls, who went 0-for-3 with two walks in an extra-innings loss to the Tigers on Sunday, is 2-for-6 with three base on balls, a stolen base and a run in his first two games since b...
Impact Walls was recalled from the Bulls prior to Saturday's game versus Detroit, a 7-2 win for the Rays in which he went 2-for-3 with a walk, a steal and a run while starting at shortstop for Wander Franco (hamstring). Walls still carries just a .209/.316/.306 slash line in the majors this season, but his diverse production over the small weekend sample offers some hope that he may be starting to get a better handle on big-league arms. He should be set for steady starting opportunities while Franco remains sidelined.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Joey Wendle, Dietrich Enns lead Rays to 7-2 win over Tigers
Joey Wendle tripled and homered, 30-year-old Dietrich Enns won for the first time in the major leagues and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Detroit Tigers 7-2 on SaturdaySEPTEMBER 12, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Up to replace Franco Walls was recalled from Triple-A Durham prior to Saturday's game against the White Sox, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact Wander Franco (hamstring strain) will likely miss at least a couple weeks, so Walls should play pretty regularly at shortstop in the short term. He is slashing .255/.389/.471 with eight home runs and nine steals in 45 games at Triple-A, but that success has not carried over in the majors, where he is slashing .203/.301/.305 in 147 plate appearances.
SEPTEMBER 11, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Cruz, 41, oldest to hit 3O HRs in year, Rays bop Bosox 12-7
Nelson Cruz homered twice and, at 41 years old, became the oldest player in major league history to hit 30 home runs in a season, powering the Tampa Bay Rays past the Boston Red So...SEPTEMBER 8, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sent back to minors Walls was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.
Impact Walls had been back with the big-league squad since the start of September but went just 2-for-15 at the plate in five games, dropping his season slash line to .203/.301/.305 across 147 plate appearances. He'll head to the minors as the Rays recall reliever Louis Head.
SEPTEMBER 7, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Quiet in first two games back Walls is 1-for-6 with two strikeouts in his first two games since being promoted from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.
Impact Walls first taste of big-league action came earlier this season, when he posted a .200/.311/.305 slash line with with eight doubles, a home run, 13 RBI and three stolen bases across 38 games. The rookie will apparently have the benefit of further honing his craft throughout September, so he should have a solid amount of opportunities to overcome the slow start to his latest big-league stint.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Duran has go-ahead single in the 9th, Red Sox beat Rays 3-2
Jarren Duran had a tiebreaking RBI single in the ninth and the COVID-19 impacted Boston Red Sox stopped the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays’ nine-game winning streak with a 3-2 vict...SEPTEMBER 2, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
