A Tampa Bay Rays Blog: Ball on a Budget
Growing up, the first player to actually become my favorite player was Steve Cox. I remember seeing him react like a cat at first base and making ridiculous looking plays; naturally I considered him the best player on the team. Actually looking back, he was just replacement level but darnit I think he was great. […]
Previous Winner Gary Gill Hill, RHP21 | 6’2” | 160A+ | 3.82 ERA, 4.37 FIP, 136.2 IP (25 GS), 18.8% K, 5.3% BB A groundballer, Gill Hill was a feather in the cap for the Rays scouting department when snagged in the sixth round in 2022. He raised his armslot in 2024 to great success, […]
The Rays will be taking on the Team Netherlands for the World Baseball Classic this afternoon. The team features a former top prospect in Druw Jones plus established big leaugers Kenley Jansen, Xander Bogaerts, Ceddanne Rafaela, Ozzie Albies, and Jurickson Profar. First pitch is at 1:05 at Charlotte Sports Park and the Rays will be […]
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It’s split squad day with one contingent of Rays traveling to take on the Twins and another contingent remaining in Port Charlotte to take on the Phillies. No TV today but the Twins radio team will cover that game and the Rays will have radio coverage of the game in Port Charlotte. We will have […]
Previous Winner Dom Keegan, C25 | R/R | 6’0” | 210AAA | .241/.306/.429 (89 wRC+) 297 PA, 10 HR, 0 SB, 8.1% BB, 30.6% K Keegan is at an inflection point in his minor league career, having joined the 40-man roster as the third catcher, and overall the jury is still out. Trusted more at […]
Perusing former big leaguers as one does and Jose Guillen fascinates me. A freak athlete with a ridiculous arm, he was utterly terrible for the first few years of his career. From 1997-2002, he had -6.1 fWAR, easily the worst of any player over that stretch of time (next closest was Neifi Perez, -3.8 fWAR). […]
As fans, we thrive on finding meaning in our teams’ stats. Do the numbers coming out of spring training — which is basically one very long practice — actually have significance, however? I would argue that most spring numbers tell us little, except a few that can tell us a lot more. We may not […]
There will be MLB.tv coverage of the games today with the Braves broadcast available, along with both teams providing radio feeds. First pitch against the Atlanta Braves is at 1:05 at CoolToday Park Today’s highlight package is from June 7-9, 1999 when the Devil Rays took on the Atlanta Braves
Nick Martinez takes the hill the today as he makes his first appearance of the Spring. There will be local radio coverage of the game today by the Rays. First pitch against the Detroit Tigers is at 1:05 at Charlotte Sports Park Today’s highlight package is from May 31-June 2, 1999 when the Devil Rays […]
For our final day of Daily Questions – which was intended to celebrate the community we have here – we shall end with a real one: Who do you appreciate in this community? Give them a shout down below.
Previous Winner Homer Bush Jr., OF24 | R/R | 6’3” | 215AA | .301/.375/.360 (122 wRC+) 546 PA, 0 HR, 57 SB, 8.8% BB, 17.9% K Acquired in the 2024 Jason Adam trade, the starting center fielder at Double-A passed the test of advanced pitching, but just barely. He lacks in-game power due to a […]
Ryan Pepiot takes the hill the today as he makes his first appearance of the Spring. There will be local radio coverage of the game today by the Rays. First pitch against the Toronto Blue Jays is at 1:05 at Charlotte Sports Park Today’s highlight package is from September 14-16, 1999 when the Devil Rays […]
A few Rays pitchers have debuted new pitch shapes this spring — and they all have one thing in common: they’re offspeed pitches. That’s not a coincidence. The Rays are quietly building a pitching optimization template: preserve the fastball traits, kill lift on the offspeed, widen the vertical angle of approach (VAA) gap, and let […]
Make one 2026 prediction that you will stand by all season.
The Tampa Bay Rays today announced the first three public community engagement sessions, inviting residents across Hillsborough County to learn more about and share their input on the vision for a new ballpark and mixed-use district. In partnership with Hillsborough College, the Rays will kick off the series on Tuesday, March 3, at the College’s […]
The only coverage today is courtesy of the Boston Red Sox radio team First pitch is at 1:05 at JetBlue Park
Is it more flappy bois? Is it a place in the stadium where you can work remotely? Is it a sit down restaurant field level? Let’s get your biggest and best wishes!
Previous Winner Aidan Smith, OF21 | R/R | 6’2” | 190A+ | .237/.331/.388 (114 wRC+) 459 PA, 14 HR, 41 SB, 11.5% BB, 31.2% K Acquired in the Arozarena trade, Smith became the prince who was promised, a five tool athlete with a strong bat, good face, and a preternatural glove in center field. That […]
The Tampa Bay Rays top overall prospect will make his spring debut this afternoon, getting the start against the Baltimore Orioles. There isn’t any radio coverage today, but the Orioles are broadcasting the game so it can be seen on MLB.tv. First pitch is at 1:05 at Ed Smith Stadium
With Shane McClanahan hopefully returning to the rotation for the first time in two seasons, the Rays will need to manage his workload carefully to ensure he’s healthy for October – both this year and beyond. The goal isn’t necessarily to restrict or limit him, but to preserve his health while also allowing him to […]
On this week’s episode of Rays Your Voice, Darby Robinson and I talk to Ben Whitelaw about fringe roster players to keep an eye on throughout spring training. Ben has written about several players that are far from household names, even for Rays fans, but on this episode we talk about which of those players […]
Also, which is worse? To have had and lost (World Series year) or to never have had at all (playoffs, no World Series)?
The Tampa Bay Rays announced a statement from Chief Executive Officer Ken Babby following today’s meeting of Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet: “The Tampa Bay Rays are grateful for the approval granted today by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet for the conveyance of state land to Hillsborough College for the purpose […]
No TV covereage today, but the game can be heard through the radio. First pitch is 1:05 against the Minnesota Twins at Charlotte Sports Park.