Spring Training Updates: Week Three
Entering Thursday, the Rays hold a 10–9–1 record through the first three weeks of the Grapefruit League season, and since our last Spring Training update the Bulls’ roster has begun to take shape.
Over the last week Mikie Mahtook, Enny Romero and Burch Smith have all been optioned to the minors, while Vince Belnome, Allan Dykstra and Taylor Motter were all reassigned to the minor league camp. With these “cuts,” all six players appear headed to begin the season with Durham, as each player except Motter was a Triple-A regular last season (Smith made just two starts with Triple-A El Paso before his season ended because of injury, but projected to spend the year at Triple-A or higher.)
It appears the three open spots in the Rays’ Opening Day rotation are now between Nathan Karns (13.1 IP, 3 ER), Matt Andriese (16.1 IP, 2 ER), Mike Montgomery (9.0 IP, 2 ER) and Everett Teaford (9.2 IP, 3 ER), with the odd man out out most likely beginning the year in the Bull City.
Offensively Nick Franklin suffered an oblique strain and will be out for Opening Day, leaving an infield spot open on the Tampa Bay roster. The spot will seemingly go to Tim Beckham, Jake Elmore, Alexi Casilla, Juan Francisco or Eugenio Velez, with the other four players on their way to Durham (Francisco does have an April 5th opt-out clause if not on the big league roster.)
Players Optioned or Reassigned from MLB Camp (*indicates 40-man roster player):
3/12: Daniel Robertson, Boog Powell
3/15: Jose Dominguez*, Hak-Ju Lee*, Dylan Floro, Luke Maile, Robert Zarate
3/16: Ryan Brett*, Grayson Garvin*, Justin O’Conner*
3/19: Mikie Mahtook*, Enny Romero*, Vince Belnome
3/20: Burch Smith*
3/23: Allan Dykstra, Taylor Motter
For a full breakdown of Rays Spring Training statistics, click here.
