With three days left until the start of the Grapefruit League season, Tyler Glasnow was among the pitchers who threw live batting practice on Wednesday.
Glasnow threw mostly fastballs, curveballs and a couple of changeups, as opposed to the new splitter that he has been “fiddling around with.”
I’m fiddling around with both of them. But I’m trying to work on my line to home so my changeup is better, so I’m not pronating it, I’m just like straight behind it, and it feels good.
— Tyler Glasnow
Glasnow also said that he was encouraged by his first live batting practice of Spring Training after the long four months since the Rays season ended. You can hear his interview below, courtesy of Rays Radio.
Rays manager Kevin Cash had nothing but superlatives for Glasnow’s early pitching performance, saying:
He’s worked hard. I was impressed. The effort level was good but it also was under control. You could tell by the way he was throwing so many strikes and his misses were just, just misses. You could tell by the hitters reactions that the stuff was coming out really, really hot.
— Kevin Cash
Yoshi Tsutsugo got the opportunity to face both Glasnow and Yonny Chirinos on Wednesday.
Tsutsugo — who is expected to play in left field on Sunday, in his first Grapefruit League contest — made weak contact off Glasnow, and good contact off of Chirinos, lining what would likely have been a double. The right-hander was able to come back with a couple of good pitches later in the live batting practice session.
To prepare for his first outing in the field, Cash said Yoshi will play in the outfield during Thursday’s workout since the team will be working on cutoffs and relays. Tsutsugo also took some early work at third base, where he will get plenty of reps as the spring progresses.
Ji-Man Choi not only got in some work at first base as the pitchers worked on PFP’s, but he got in some dancing reps as Livin’ On A Prayer played over the PA speakers in Port Charlotte.
Full squad workouts will continue on Thursday with Charlie Morton and Blake Snell expected to throw live batting practice.
Noteworthiness
— Kevin Cash said that Trevor Richards, Jalen Beeks, and Pete Fairbanks will face the Red Sox in Ft. Myers on Saturday, in the Rays’ first exhibition game.
— The Rays announced three new ticket packages on Wednesday, which you can read about below the graphic.
Per the press release:
Ballpark Pass
For only $36 per month, the Ballpark Pass includes a mobile ticket to every regular-season home game.
Benefits include:
- Guaranteed Standing Room ticket to all Rays home games.
- No restrictions – come see any game you please, including Opening Day and AL East rivals!
- Easy ticket delivery via the MLB Ballpark app.
- Auto-renewal each month – no need to make monthly purchases.
Flex Pack
For only $99, you receive five ticket vouchers for a savings of up to 45% off single-game prices!
Benefits include:
- Flexibility to use the tickets as you see fit – any combination up to five (5) per game.
- Choose your games. Flex Pack ticket game options include Opening Day, weekend games and giveaway dates.*
- Choose from select Lower Reserved or GTE Financial Party Deck seats.
- Easy delivery via the Ballpark app.
*Flex Pack tickets do not include games against the Boston Red Sox or New York Yankees.
Rays Win Pack
For $99 per pack, fans can select any four Rays regular-season home games. If buyers select and attend four games that the Rays win, they will receive a voucher to choose another home game for free. Rays Win Pack holders with four consecutive wins can continue to choose games for free until they attend a game that the Rays lose or the end of the regular season.
Benefits include:
- Savings over single game prices and the ability to win free games.
- No restrictions – select any game you please including Opening Day and AL East rivals!
- A variety of seating options, including select Lower Reserved, 200 Level Reserved, and GTE Financial Party Deck seats.
- Easy ticket management through the Ballpark app, including the ability to add guest tickets for each game selected.
— In his annual Spring Training press conference on Wednesday, Rays principal owner Stu Sternberg said that he expects attendance to increase in 2020. Part of the confidence comes from the new ticket plans (mentioned above) which include nearly half of the home games being $12 or less, including weekend games.
There’s a couple of things that we’re trying this year, and one of them I don’t think has been done. Affordability won’t be an issue, and it should never be when attending a baseball game and especially attending a Rays baseball game. We have a couple of other plans rolling out, in addition to our flex plans, that can make it amazingly affordable.
— Stu Sternberg
Good thing the team is rolling out affordable ticket packages, since the idea to only utilize mobile ticketing only — by way of the MLB Ballpark app — reeks of a lack of empathy for those in a lower socioeconomic bracket who may not have access to a smartphone. At least Sternberg acknowledged those without a smartphone, saying those fans can still go to the box office or the team store, and representatives will be there to offer assistance.