Josh Fleming was impressive in his first Spring appearance on Friday.

Brandon Lowe hit a grand slam and drove in five runs while Josh Fleming and Ryan Thompson both looked good on the mound in their first appearances of the Spring on a day where the Tampa Bay Rays recognized the team’s late bullpen catcher Jean Ramirez.

Lowe’s grand slam came against former teammate Chris Ellis in the second inning giving the Rays a 4-1 lead. It was Lowe’s first home run of the Spring. To commemorate Ramirez, Lowe wore his cleats which he later auctioned with the proceeds going to mental health causes.

It was definitely a really awesome day for a performance like that. It definitely felt like you weren’t up there alone. So it was pretty cool to be able to go out there, especially in front of his family, wearing the cleats that he made. It was a really special day.

— Brandon Lowe

In the last few seasons, Lowe has focused on mental health through his Home Runs for Hope program, where money is donated for every homer that he hits through the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. The infielder said losing Ramirez to suicide in January was especially difficult.

It honestly kind of rocked me a little bit to the core. Whether it’s Wander at 21 playing every day or Karly (Fisher in Communications) who’s behind the scenes, everybody in this organization is family. To lose a family member like that in a way that is so close and partial to myself, it really stung a little bit. Hopefully, we can keep working with his family, his mom, and his dad, to really amplify that if you need help if you’re not feeling yourself, it’s okay to not be all right and go seek some help.

— Brandon Lowe

The team wore number 98 and observed a moment of silence before the game with Ramirez’s parents, Toni and Carlos, in attendance.

Per Neil Solondz, “the players will wear number 98 at a May game and the jerseys will be auctioned to benefit Mental Health Awareness. May is Mental Health Awareness month.”

Meanwhile, Fleming and Thompson were impressive on Friday.

Fleming retired the side on just eight pitches (seven strikes) while striking out one in one inning of work. The hurler was happy with the outcome.

I was told probably three or four days ago I was only gonna go one. I did try to sneak out there for a second but Snyds (Pitching Coach Kyle Snyder) was not having it, but I knew.

— Josh Fleming

Thompson, who had thoracic outlet syndrome surgery last season, allowed a hit, a walk, and a run in his frame, although had good movement, and his velocity was up to 92 mph.

Fleming was incredibly efficient, good to see Thompson back out on the mound.

— Kevin Cash

Speaking of pitching, Cody Reed threw live batting practice on Thursday which reportedly went well. However, Rays’ skipper Kevin Cash showed concern over Reed’s velocity which isn’t back to where it was before his bout with (and subsequent surgery for) thoracic outlet syndrome.

I think that it’s highly likely we will not see him in spring training games. We’re going to put him more on a strength build-up program and see if we can get that velocity back and closer to the guy that we saw at the spring training last year.

— Kevin Cash

Brendan McKay threw on Thursday, throwing 20 fastballs and changeups in his first bullpen of the Spring. McKay, who also had a similar procedure as Thompson and Reed, is hoping to face hitters before the end of Spring Training.

In rather “unexpected” and/or “shocking” news, Kevin Kiermaier was a late scratch from the lineup Friday due to left groin soreness. Kiermaier previously missed a few days early in camp because of upper back and neck tightness.

I really don’t know other than that he had he said groin tightness. So we’ll probably shut him down for a couple (of) days and see how he bounces back.

— Kevin Cash

The New What Next

Corey Kluber will take the mound for the first time in a Rays uniform this afternoon, pitching opposite of former Ray Michael Wacha. Kevin Cash says Kluber will work up to three innings. We’ll post the starting lineup and any other game-day information as it becomes available.

Rays 3/26/22 Starting Lineup

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  1. Arozarena RF
  2. Franco SS
  3. Choi 1B
  4. Meadows LF
  5. Diaz 3B
  6. Raley DH
  7. Pinto C
  8. Proctor 2B

Noteworthiness

— The Rays announced that they have acquired OF Harold Ramírez from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for minor league INF Esteban Quiroz. To make room on the 40-man roster, the Rays placed RH Nick Anderson (recovery from right elbow surgery) on the 60-day IL.

Ramirez is expected to join the team on Sunday, and General Manager Peter Bendix expects him to raise the team’s floor and lengthen the lineup against southpaw pitching. He is expected to be a designated hitter and corner outfielder.