After a long and fairly quiet offseason, the Tampa Bay Rays are back at it, albeit in a different location — the Wide World of Sports Complex — (thanks a lot, Hurricane Ian) to start Spring Training.
Half of the 44 pitchers in camp threw bullpen sessions on Wednesday, in the first formal workouts of camp, with the other half slated to do the same on Thursday. Starting pitchers Shane McClanahan, Tyler Glasnow, and Jeffrey Springs as well as fireballer Pete Fairbanks were among those to throw their first bullpen sessions of Spring Training on Wednesday.
Andrew Kittredge and Colby White, both recovering from surgery, are also at camp. Kittredge, on the mend after 2022 Tommy John surgery, is now throwing from 105 feet after starting to play catch several months ago. The right-hander said his rehab is going well and is doing fielding practice drills with the other pitchers.
Meanwhile, White, who was added to the 40-man in the off-season, threw his fourth bullpen session on Wednesday — his first in Spring Training. White is expected to see game action in June, while Kittredge should be ready after the All-Star Break.
On Tuesday, prior to the first official day of camp, Erik Neander, Pete Bendix, and Kevin Cash spoke to the media about their expectations for the 2023 season.
Neil Solondz (Rays Radio) highlighted some of the most impactful moments of the press conference, which you can watch in its entirety above.
On Confidence in the Current Roster
Neander and General Manager Peter Bendix are confident despite the team’s inability to add a veteran bat to the group in the off-season. Bendix says a lot of that has to do with the team’s overall talent, but also that the core group was kept intact.
We have so much talent on the roster, most of it is young. A lot of it is unproven, but the best players are unproven until they actually go out and do it.
— Pete Bendix
Bendix says as Isaac Paredes took a big step forward last year, and several other individuals are capable of doing (the) same on the offensive side of the ball this season. That said, the strength of the team is starting pitching and the overall staff.
On The Pitching Staff
Tyler Glasnow, who made just a couple of regular season starts as he recovered from Tommy John surgery, believes this is the best starting group he’s been around. Glasnow believes last year’s difficult finish served as motivation for him and others.
It definitely leaves a bad taste in your mouth so you don’t want to do it again.
— Tyler Glasnow
Shane McClanahan, who along with Glasnow will anchor one of the better rotations in the sport, also enters 2023 highly motivated.
We got that taste last year and the year before and I think we want more. We set ourselves up to be in a good spot.
— Shane McClanahan
Manager Kevin Cash is excited that the group enters 2023 motivated and ready to get started.
I would expect that because it’s a highly motivated group. There’s a lot of work to be done and we trust that they’re going to put forth that effort.
— Kevin Cash