Rays Send Seven Players to Minor Leagues
The Rays announced Sunday that five players were optioned to the minor leagues, while two more were re-assigned to minor league camp. Tampa Bay’s roster now sits at 60, which will be reduced to 26 by the season opener on March 26.
The Rays announced Sunday that five players were optioned to the minor leagues, while two more were re-assigned to minor league camp. Tampa Bay’s roster now sits at 60, which will be reduced to 26 by the season opener on March 26.
Infielders
The 22-year-old Brujan is one of the more exciting prospects in the Rays system. He is ranked the 45th-best prospect by MLB.com, while earning Tampa Bay Rays Organization Baserunner of the Year honors each of the past two seasons. The switch hitter split the 2019 campaign between Charlotte (A+) and Montgomery (AA), stealing 48 bases and hitting .277 (106-383) with four home runs and 40 RBI.
Fox, also a 22-year-old switch hitter, appeared in 15 games with Durham last season and was named the Southern League’s “Best Hustler,” leading the pack with 37 stolen bases during his time with Montgomery (AA). The Nassau, Bahamas native will be representing Great Britain later this month in World Baseball Classic qualifying.
Hernandez is one of three catchers currently on the 40-man roster, and spent the entirety of last season with Charlotte (A+). The 22-year-old hit .265 (104-393) with nine home runs and 60 RBI while throwing out 39% of basestealers.
Honeywell Jr. is looking to return to the mound for the first time since 2017 after undergoing Tommy John Surgery and subsequently suffering a broken elbow during the rehab process. The Georgia native has been dominant when healthy, and is ranked the 91st-best prospect by MLB.com despite missing the past two seasons. In 24 starts with Durham in 2017, the 25-year-old went 12-8 with a 3.64 ERA (50 ER/123.2 IP) and added 152 strikeouts.
Padlo, 23, played in 40 games with Durham last season, hitting .290 (38-131) with nine homers and 27 RBI. The 16th-ranked prospect in the Rays system led the Tampa Bay farm system in home runs in 2019, combining for 21 round trippers between Montgomery (AA) and Durham. He was acquired from Colorado in 2016 along with outfielder Corey Dickerson in exchange for pitchers Jake McGee and German Marquez.
Campbell split last season between Charlotte (A+) and Montgomery (AA) and ranked tied for first in the Rays’ minor league system with 13 wins, in addition to fourth in strikeouts (112). The 24-year-old was drafted by the Rays in the 21st round of the 2017 draft out of Clemson.
The left-handed hitting Gray spent the entirety of his third professional season with Montgomery (AA), hitting .225 (94-418) with 17 long balls and 64 RBI in 122 games. The Houston native was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2018 along with right-hander Daniel Hudson and cash in exchange for outfielder Corey Dickerson.
The Rays open the season on March 26 at home against the Pirates. The Bulls also open at home on April 9 versus Charlotte.
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