The Tampa Bay Rays are promoting one of their top prospects, first baseman Jake Bauers, from Triple-A Durham on Thursday.
Hey, @JakeBauers11…
See you tomorrow.#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/cBmBQWwVlo
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 6, 2018
Bauers, acquired in the 11 player deal that sent Will Myers to the Padres in December 2014, is the latest member of the Rays’ youth wave to be promoted to the majors, following reliever RHP Diego Castillo, INF Christian Arroyo, and SS Willy Adames, who made a three-game cameo last month.
According to Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times), more callups are expected now* that teams are past the unofficial cutoff for Super 2 arbitration eligibility that can lead to an extra and early year of increased pay.
Bauers was in the midst of his second solid season with Durham, slashing .279 BA/.357 OBP/.426 SLG/.783 OPS with five homers and 24 RBI over 222 plate appearances. Even though he is a natural first baseman, Bauers has also spent time in the outfield, offering the team some flexibility in the field.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jZKFtQVs5kM
Bauers, 22, is the Rays’ number five prospect according to MLB Pipeline, and the Rays’ fourth best prospect according to Baseball America (the 42nd among in the league).
A corresponding move to create space on the 25-man roster will be announced Thursday, although several signs point to 1B Brad Miller as being the likely candidate to be traded, released or optioned to the minors.
Miller has become a liability — and an expensive one at $4.5 million — anytime he puts on a glove. He’s still chasing the ghost of his 30-homer season in 2016 with, at best, inconsistent production at the plate, writes Topkin on the subject of the expected move.
*Including the return of Adames.