The Rays are expected to promote Vidal Bruján Wednesday ahead of the doubleheader against Cleveland.

With Manuel Margot (left hamstring injury) headed to the 10-Day Injured List, retroactive to July 5, utility infielder/outfielder Vidal Bruján will be promoted as the 27th man ahead of Wednesday’s doubleheader against Cleveland. Bruján is expected to stick around while Margot is on the shelf.

He becomes the latest highly-touted prospect to be promoted to an infield that has already welcomed Taylor Walls and Wander Franco within the last two months. Bruján is an extremely promising player slotting among the game’s top 60 prospects entering the 2021 campaign. The 23-year-old boasts a combination of athleticism, speed, and bat control, especially from the left-handed side of the batter’s box.

Bruján has been a better-than-average hitter at every minor league stop, slashing .290 BA/.374 OBP/.423 SLG/.797 OPS with 28 home runs and 166 stolen bases (in 217 attempts) across six seasons. And while he’s slumped of late, Bruján has been largely productive at Triple-A Durham, slashing .259 BA/.344 OBP/.471 SLG/.815 OPS in 216 plate appearances with a .356 wOBA, a 116 wRC+, 9 homers, and 23 RBI at the minors’ highest level.

Equally as important, Bruján has walked about as often as he’s struck out throughout his time in the Rays’ farm system, drawing free passes at a 10.6% clip while striking out 11.6% of the time. His strikeout rate has jumped to a career-high 15.7% in Durham, however, that’s still +6% better than the major league average.

Bruján has appeared in 27 games in the outfield this season (11 in left, 10 in right, and 6 in center), to go along with seven games (59 innings) at short, so he likely will slot in at a corner outfield spot with the Rays.

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