For those of you who’ve followed our #PromoteShaffer and #FreeShaffer campaigns on Twitter, our hard work has finally come to fruition. Now that you’ve made it past that megalomaniacal sentence, the Tampa Bay Rays will promote Richie Shaffer — the power hitting third base/first base prospect — to the majors on Monday.
Looks like Shaffer time for #Rays. Slugging prospect Richie Shaffer removed from AAA Durham game, expected to be called up Monday.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 2, 2015
Confirmed, #Rays are expected to call up 1B/3B Richie Shaffer on Monday in Chicago
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 2, 2015
Shaffer was Tampa Bay’s 2012 first-round draft pick and started the season with Double-A Montgomery. But the prospect broke out in a big way this season, slashing .262 BA/.362 OBP/.470 SLG/.832 OPS with seven homers in 149 at-bats. His success in the box earned Shaffer a promotion to Durham where he continued to produce, slashing .261 BA/.353 OBP/.592 SLG/.945 OPS with 16 homers in 184 at-bats.
Shaffer is a right-handed hitter that will likely immediately be placed into the Rays lineup, due to Steven Souza’s placement on the DL. The Rays are about to face three left-handed pitchers, and a right handed power bat could help bolster the team’s scuffling offense.
Since Shaffer is primarily a corner infielder — be that either at first or third — it is probable that he’ll platoon at first base, where he can give James Loney a break against left handed pitching. He, too, could slot in at third on days when manager Kevin Cash wants to give Evan Longoria some time off his feet.
#Rays AAA manager Sandberg told @stevewisemanNC Shaffer has worked some in RF, was to play there this week — Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) August 3, 2015
Interestingly enough, Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) noted that Shaffer has been working in right field at Durham, another option that could offer him more playing time because of his flexibility.
While the timetable for his promotion has been expedited, as he was projected to be a September call up, it is no less exciting to see the first player of the Rays’ 2012 draft class make his way to the big leagues.
The excitement was palpable for Shaffer, who told Topkin:
I can’t even begin to describe the feeling, it hasn’t really set in. Right now, I’m actually under control a little bit. It probably will really hit me when I get on the plane (today).
Welcome to the Rays, Richie!