Spring Training Updates: Week Two

After Wednesday’s game the Rays will be through two weeks of Spring Training games, and since we last brought you updates from Port Charlotte much has changed.

First and foremost, Tampa Bay made their first two rounds of spring cuts, optioning Hak-Ju Lee, Ryan Brett, Justin O’Conner, Grayson Garvin and Jose Dominguez to minor league camp, while reassigning Dylan Floro, Robert Zarate, Luke Maile, Daniel Robertson and Boog Powell.

Second, the Rays have been bit by the injury bug, as Alex Cobb is suffering from right-forearm tendinitis, Drew Smyly is suffering from left-shoulder tendinitis and Alex Colome has been sick with pneumonia. Cobb was announced earlier this spring as the Rays’ Opening Day starter, but that is now in jeopardy, while Smyly was slated as the №3 starter in the rotation and Colome was a №5 hopeful. Now, Nathan Karns, Matt Andriese, Burch Smith, Everett Teaford and Enny Romero seem to be in competition for at least two, and potentially three, open slots in the rotation come Opening Day.

Karns has allowed 1 ER in 9.0 innings this spring over three starts, while Andriese has allowed just 1 ER in 7.2 innings of work in three outings (two starts). Teaford (four games) has been sharp, surrendering 1 ER in 6.2 innings, while Romero has gone 4.2 innings, allowing 2 ER in four relief outings.

Offensively Corey Brown has continued to hit well, batting .467–1–2 (7-for-15) in 9 games, while Eugenio Velez in 4-for-11 over his first seven games. Mikie Mahtook, who’s been struggling this spring, cracked his first homer of the Grapefruit League season Tuesday against the Phillies.

For a full breakdown of Rays spring training statistics, click here.