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Rays 6/19/18 pregame notes; Kevin Kiermaier activated from DL

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Kevin Kiermaier will be donning a Rays jersey Tuesday night. (Photo Credit: Durham Bulls)

The Tampa Bay Rays look to bounce back tonight after a gut wrenching, 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros on Monday.

Kevin Kiermaier, who has been out since April 15th after suffering a torn ligament in his right thumb — requiring surgery and a two-month stint on the DL — against Philadelphia, has been activated and will hit leadoff. The Rays have gone 30-27 in the time without Kiermaier, which is better than each of the previous two years when he missed significant chunks of the season.

The two-time Gold Glove winner went 7-17 over the course of his rehab stint, with a double, a triple, an RBI, two walks and a stolen base.

I squared up a lot of balls, had great at-bats, Kiermaier said. So I texted Cash, I texted (Mottola) quite a few times. And I said, ‘How many more line drives is it going to take for me to get a call to Houston?’ I guess I convinced them enough. … I’m where I need to be right now, and I’m excited to take the field tomorrow with these guys.

He is returning two games earlier than expected and will face Justin Verlander, arguably the American League’s top pitcher this season.

Hey, you face the best, and he’s having a great year, Kiermaier said. I knew what I was getting myself into, and I didn’t want to wait until Friday, to be honest. I feel like I’m fully capable right now. So I’m glad they flew me to Houston.

To make room for Kiermaier on the 25 and 40-man rosters, the Rays designated infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder for assignment.

While Refsnyder drew walks at an excellent 17.5% clip in 103 plate appearances for the Rays, he performed to an overall .167 BA/.314 OBP/.274 SLG/.588 OPS/74 wRC+ slash line, with two homers, 10 runs and five RBI. He’s a lifetime 68 wRC+ hitter in 423 big league plate appearances.

Refsnyder was facing diminished playing time due to Kiermaier’s return. He played primarily against lefties, and that role is now likely to be filled by Johnny Field, who will platoon left-field with Mallex Smith.

The New What Next

Blake Snell (8-4, 2.58 ERA) will get the start for the Rays, pitching opposite of Justin Verlander (9-2, 1.61 ERA).

Blake Snell allowed four runs on five hits and four walks over five innings on Thursday. He struck out eight. Snell had won his last four decisions heading in to this tough matchup against the Yankees, last taking a loss on May 13 against the Orioles. That was also the last time he allowed more than two earned runs. Even with the rough outing, the southpaw has performed to a stellar 2.58 ERA across 87-1/3 innings with a 3.34 K/BB. Snell is 0-1 with a 7.50 ERA in three career starts against Houston.

Justin Verlander allowed three runs on five hits while striking out seven across seven innings against the Athletics on Thursday. It wasn’t Verlander’s sharpest performance, as the right-hander allowed a pair of homers in the game, but it got the job done. At the end of May he owned a 1.11 ERA, although that number jumped to a still-pristine 1.61 after Thursday’s contest. This season Verlander has relied on a whiffy 95 mph four-seam fastball with good “rising” action, and an 87 mph slider. He has also mixed in an 80 mph curveball with sharp downward bite. The 35 year-old is 8-3 with a 3.29 ERA in 16 career starts against the Rays. Key Matchups: Rob Refsnyder (2-2, RBI), Mallex Smith (1-4, BB)

You can read about the series in our preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Astros — a series preview

Rays 6/19/18 Starting Lineup

Kiermaier CF
Duffy 3B
Bauers 1B
Ramos C
Wendle 2B
Cron DH
Smith LF
Gomez RF
Hechavarria SS
Snell LHP

Rays Roster Moves: Rob Refsnyder designated for assignment

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In order to clear room on the 25 and 40-man rosters ahead of Kevin Kiermaier’s activation from the DL, the Rays have designated Rob Refsnyder for assignment.

The Tampa Bay Rays have designated infielder/outfielder Rob Refsnyder for assignment ahead of the activation of centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier from the 60-day DL.

The 27 year-old Refsnyder received a 40-game trial run in Tampa Bay, however, he failed to produce at a convincing clip at the plate — something that has plagued him over his career.

While Refsnyder drew walks at an excellent 17.5% clip in 103 plate appearances for the Rays, he performed to an overall .167 BA/.314 OBP/.274 SLG/.588 OPS/74 wRC+ slash line, with two homers, 10 runs and five RBI. He’s a lifetime 68 wRC+ hitter in 423 big league plate appearances.

Refsnyder was facing diminished playing time due to Kiermaier’s return. He played primarily against lefties, and that role is now likely to be filled by Johnny Field, who will platoon left-field with Mallex Smith.

The Rays could have instead designated Carlos Gomez or a pitcher; or as Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) suggested, they could have sent down Field and created the 40-man opening by dropping someone who is in the minors.

Rays Injury Update: Kiermaier slated to return Tuesday; on Robertson and Archer

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Kevin Kiermaier injured his right thumb, requiring surgery, on a headfirst slide into second base back on April 15. (Photo Credit: WANE.com)

The Tampa Bay Rays are slated to make a handful of roster moves this week, starting with the activation of Kevin Kiermaier from the 60-day disabled list on Tuesday.

Kiermaier injured his right thumb, requiring surgery to repair a torn ligament, on a headfirst slide into second base back on April 15. His activation will come a couple days ahead of his most recent timetable, which had him slated to return at the end of the week when the Rays return home from their current road trip.

Kiermaier was persistent with manager Kevin Cash and hitting coach Chad Mottola, telling reporters that he texted both multiple times in an attempt to convince them he was ready after just five rehab games. The two-time Gold Glove winner went 7-17 over the course of his rehab stint, with a double, a triple, an RBI, two walks and a stolen base.

I squared up a lot of balls, had great at-bats, Kiermaier said. So I texted Cash, I texted (Mottola) quite a few times. And I said, ‘How many more line drives is it going to take for me to get a call to Houston?’ I guess I convinced them enough. … I’m where I need to be right now, and I’m excited to take the field tomorrow with these guys.

Manager Kevin Cash said the Rays training staff felt Kiermaier was ready.

We thought, talking to K.K. and talking to the training staff and then obviously the Durham staff, that he was in a good spot physically and mentally, Cash said. We’re a better team when K.K. is on the field.

Even though there is some lingering soreness in his surgically repaired thumb, Kiermaier will instantly go back to centerfield, with Mallex Smith likely sliding over to left to share time with Johnny Field. Carlos Gomez will presumably remain in right.

The team will need to make room on both the 25-man and 40-man rosters, as Kiermaier is currently on the 60-day DL.

Daniel Robertson (left hamstring strain) will play second base in the first game of a doubleheader for Port Charlotte on Tuesday, and if all goes well he will be activated Friday. According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times, Twitter link) that seems to be a driving force for them to make a deal for Adeiny Hechavarria.

Chris Archer (left abdominal strain) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday. Even if everything goes well, Archer is likely several weeks away from a return as he will need some rehab starts before returning to the team. The right-hander most recently played catch on Friday and felt well afterward.

Rays Roster Moves: Christian Arroyo placed on the DL, Adeiny Hechavarria activated

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Christian Arroyo was placed on the 10-day DL with an oblique strain following Saturday’s ball-game.

The Tampa Bay Rays announced, after Saturday’s losing contest against the Yankees, that INF Christian Arroyo has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a left oblique strain. Adeiny Hechavarria has been recalled from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham and activated.

Arroyo had been productive in his 16 starts with the Rays, hitting .264. Manager Kevin Cash said the injury took place during Arroyo’s first plate appearance in Friday’s ball game:

The injury crept up in his first at-bat on (Friday), Cash said. He tried to manage himself through it. Being a young player, and we know how those work, you try to fight through it and you make it worse. It made the most sense to put him on the DL.

If the injury doesn’t improve, Arroyo will have an MRI.

Hechavarria missed approximately a month of action because of a right hamstring strain. With the promotion of top prospect Willy Adames, who has been handed the starting shortstop job, it isn’t entirely clear how Hechavarria will factor into the Rays’ plans. Hechavarria hasn’t played anywhere but shortstop, yet he could help boost an offense that has scored just one run over the past 21 innings. Hechavarria hit .273 with two home runs and 16 RBI in 36 games.

The timing of Arroyo’s injury has complicated the team’s plans, as internal trade whispers have circulated around the Hecahvarria who seemed all but certain to be dealt, or otherwise dropped from the roster, later this week. According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) the Rays still are likely to look to move him, although the timing of a move remains unclear.

INF Daniel Robertson is said to be on the road to recovery from his hamstring strain, and could be activated as early as Friday, when he is eligible to come of the DL.

Brad Miller designated for assignment, Rays 6/7/18 starting lineup, Trop site update

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The end of the Brad Miller era is now. (Photo Credit: USA Today Sports)

The Tampa Bay Rays formerly announced the roster move which allowed for the addition of 1B Jake Bauers to the 25-man roster, designating INF/DH Brad Miller for assignment, as opposed to either releasing him from his contract, or optioning him to Triple-A Durham.

The move gives Tampa Bay 10-days to trade Miller before either losing him to waivers, or releasing him and eating the remainder of his $4.5-million contract.

Miller, 28, had started 34 games at first base for Tampa Bay this season, but the team needed to clear a roster spot for first baseman Jake Bauers, who has been promoted from Triple-A Durham.

Bauers, 22, was acquired by the Rays in the three-team, 11-player trade in December 2014 that sent Wil Myers to the San Diego Padres and Trea Turner to the Washington Nationals.

You can read more about Bauers’ promotion at the link below.

Rays Roster Moves: Jake Bauers to be promoted on Thursday

Rays 6/7/18 Starting Lineup

Robertson SS
Cron DH
Wendle 2B
Ramos C
Duffy 3B
Bauers 1B
Gomez RF
Smith CF
Field LF
Stanek RHP

Noteworthiness

— Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder, who was hospitalized on Saturday in Seattle, has been medically cleared to rejoin the team. We wish him nothing but the best on his speedy recovery back to full health!

— The St. Petersburg City Council has approved an agreement with HKS Architects to develop a plan for the future of Tropicana Field, and the remaining acres surrounding it, without the Tampa Bay Rays.

It, however, should be noted that the city of St. Petersburg — by way of the Baseball Forever Campaign and the above mentioned architectural firm — previously developed a master plan that took into consideration the construction of a new facility on the north-east side of the property.

Today’s agreement allows the city to enter phase two, developing a master plan without ballpark, something that has always been in the works.

Before we get way ahead of ourselves, by assuming that a sparkling new facility across the bay is an inevitability, the City Council is still planning for a future with the team, be that at Tropicana Field or somewhere else, like Derby Lane or Mid Pinellas/Carillon.

According to the terms of the memorandum of understanding which allowed the Rays to search for a new stadium site in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, the team can share 50% of the development rights should it choose to build a stadium at the Tropicana Field site, which has been appraised at $1.2-billion. The Rays, however, lose the ability to cash in if they ultimately build a stadium elsewhere, even within Pinellas County. Because of it, neither the City of St. Petersburg, nor the Rays, are closing the door on a new stadium adjacent to Tropicana Field just yet. In other words, development revenues will be bonkers, and the Rays stand to lose a lot of money by building elsewhere.

So why get the ball rolling on the development of a second master plan now, with seven months left in the Rays MOU with the city? Noah Pransky (WTSP Action News) said it best:

— You can read about the Rays/M’s series in our series preview.

The New What Next: Rays vs Mariners — a series preview, part two