Rays Make Second Round of Spring Cuts
The Tampa Bay Rays made their second set of Spring Training cuts today, helping to further bring into focus the potential Durham Bulls roster for 2017. Eight more players were sent to MiLB camp, all of whom could don a Bulls uni this year.
At the top of the list is Rays №4 prospect (and the №76 prospect in MiLB) Jake Bauers. Bauers was the focus of a Hit Bull Win Blog story earlier this week, where we highlighted his powerful spring (leads the Rays with 4 HR) and speculated his presence in Durham. In addition to his surge of spring dingers, the 6–1 left-handed slugger also paces Tampa Bay in RBI (11), R (9), and OBP (.439, min. 25 AB).
Casey Gillaspie is another name that immediately jumps out. The 2016 Tampa Bay Rays Minor League Player of the Year hit .284 with 18 HR and 64 RBI last season, including a .307 average with 7 bombs and 23 RBI over 47 games with the Bulls. The №5 prospect in the Rays system as well as the №5 first base prospect in baseball, Gillaspie hit .211 with 3 HR and 8 RBI with Tampa Bay this spring.
Johnny Field, Jake Hager, Patrick Leonard, Dayron Verona, and Neil Wagner all spent part of 2016 with Durham as well. Of that quintet Verona had the biggest impact last year, as the Cuba native led Durham in Doubles (32), RBI 59, and TB (177) while finishing second in HR (14), Hits (101), and Runs (52).
The Rays roster now sits with 36. The club will need to trim 11 additional players prior to Opening Day.
