Sergio Romo stretches with 36 other hurlers in the first official workout of the 2018 season. (Photo Credit: Tampa Bay Rays)

The first workout of Tampa Bay Rays Spring Training lasted approximately two-hours on Wednesday, and by all accounts everything seemed to run smoothly.

17 pitchers threw bullpens, including Matt Andriese, Yonny Chirinos, Jake Faria, Brent Honeywell, Ryan Yarborough, Blake Snell, Dan Jennings, Austin Pruitt, Jaime Schultz and Jonny Venters.

Chirinos, who posted a phenomenal All-Star Triple-A Durham campaign last season — performing to a 2.74 ERA/3.07 FIP/5.47 K:BB over 141 IP — and Venters, who is attempting to come back from “3- 1/2” Tommy John surgeries, both impressed Rays manager Kevin Cash.

Probably the most raved about, Cash said about Venters. …Nice to see half the guys get off the mound, for sure. Some of the guys you hear about during the season, some of the young guys. [Yonny] Chirinos really stood out today, simply because he had such a good year, and we never saw him, other than on video. He’s a big dude. Definitely looks the part. That was exciting.

Players and team officials also raved about RHP Nathan Eovaldi, and Cash said he can’t wait to see him face hitters. Suffice it to say Eovaldi could play a crucial role either in the starting rotation or the ‘pen this season.

Pitchers worked on some standard drills this morning, including pitchers fielding practice (PFP). There was a change to increase the game-speed level of drills was to use rubberized balls, so grounders and liners could be hit sharper to pitchers.

Per Marc Topkin (Tampa Bay Times) pitchers rather than coaches played the role of infielders taking throws at the bases. And, for the hitters working out, there were 8-foot high screens around the infield to prompt them to hit more line drives and fewer ground balls.

Cash was pleased with the overall conditioning of the players — including a slimmed down Wilson Ramos — the work they got done and the communication among the coaching staff.

Chris Archer, who is expected to throw a bullpen session on Thursday, believes in the team’s pitching staff and depth, saying:

We have some very dynamic arms in this room. I’m willing to put it up against everybody in the league.

Archer believes there will be 3-4 guys starting with Durham that likely should be starting in the big leagues “somewhere for somebody.”

I’m excited, Archer said. I know there’s a lot of pitching staffs out there excited about what they have, but as far as our depth, one through seven, eight, nine even 10 guys — we’re going to have three or four guys in Triple A who should be starting in the big leagues somewhere for somebody. I’ll put it up against anybody, and at the end of the season we can look up the numbers and see how we all fared.

The visa-delayed backstop Jesus Sucre was the only absentee among the 61 other players (pitchers, catchers, and position players). INF/OF Andrew Velazquez, INF Brad Miller, Adeiny Hechavarria and 1B/OF Joe McCarthy, as well as outfielders Kevin Kiermaier, Denard Span and Justin Williams also have yet to report to camp.

On the docket for Thursday

Nathan Eovaldi, Chris Archer and Jake Odorizzi are among those slated to throw bullpens. Others set to throw include southpaw Jose Alvarado and flame throwing relief candidate Diego Castillo. In all 17 pitchers are to throw bullpens today after 18 did so on Wednesday.

Odorizzi is expected to throw a lighter bullpen today, due to his travel schedule to and from Arizona for his arbitration hearing, which took place Monday.

Noteworthiness

— This is all true…

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