PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla – Last season, Tampa Bay Rays’ manager Kevin Cash had little option or maneuverability with his batting order. That’s because his team declined dramatically in offensive production from the previous season and injuries forced marginal playing time of key personnel, including second baseman Brandon Lowe, outfielder Josh Lowe, first baseman Yandy Diaz and outfielder Jonny DeLuca.
Now, Cash has the luxury of creating a line-up based on the club’s collective ability to drive the ball into the gap and over the fence. As well, there is now the option to institute a “small ball” approach and seek to use speed and pressuring the defense to create opportunities.
While certain players have defined slots in the batting order, such as Brandon Lowe in the two-hole and Diaz leading off, the rest of the order, on a given night, could likely change with the opposing pitcher and which hitters are highly productive at a given time.
“There is something to be said about the consistency of a lineup,” said Brandon Lowe earlier this spring. “There’s an understanding where you will be day in and day out. Now, that changes with arms, left vs. right and stuff like that. That still gives you a little bit of certainty. If (lefty Chris) Sale is going, then you know that (Diaz) will lead off. If it’s a righty, maybe (Josh Lowe) could lead off. These guys have cemented spots in the lineup. Remember, each hitter gets pitched differently in the lineup.”
In the quest to reach previous heightened levels of production, Cash tends to experiment. Regarded as one which favors match-up situations, Cash leans on his experience (entering his 11th season as Rays manager) and a deep understanding of the game.
Given the need to create more offense, Cash will likely utilize a lineup to balance power with creativity. At the same time, the lack of a true power hitter in the four-hole, Cash acknowledges, is not an issue. Instead, this could be a strength because that dimension can provide several options.
”Hopefully, we have a little bit of all of both,” Cash said in reference to scoring with the long ball and manufacturing runs. “Your best lineups are balanced lineups, and they find ways to score runs. You have to utilize what you have. We have some guys who can hit the ball out of the ballpark, and we have some guys who need to move the ball around. They know who they are and hopefully, they complement each other.”
During the 2023 season, the Rays banged out 230 home runs, drove in 827 runs and batted .260. Last season, there was a precipitous decline in these important categories. In 2024, the Rays managed 147 homers, drove in 564 and experienced a 30-point decline in team batting average to .230. The lack of offense was a major factor why the Rays finished out of the post-season for the first time in six years.
For the season ahead, production figures could change.
Outfielder Josh Lowe hit 20 homers in 106 games last season, but during the prior year, he managed 20 homers in 135 games. At the same time, Brandon Lowe topped the club with 21 homers a year ago and that represented a drop from a career high of 39 in 2021.
“Brandon Lowe hits homers, and we have to keep him healthy, and Junior Caminero, who doesn’t have the track record of a true power hitter yet,” Cash added. “It does not surprise me that we look up in two or three months and he has a bunch of home runs. All our hitters have the potential to hit the ball out of the ballpark. With some consistency and reps, we’ll see some power.”
Breakout Game … First came the Futures Games and now the Breakout Series. That Futures Games exhibits players on their way to the majors and is conducted the Sunday before the Major League All-Star Game in mid-July. Now in concert with expanded marketing opportunities, the concept of the Future Games has expanded. This week, major league teams engage in a “futures” contest and it’s an opportunity, as Cash acknowledges, to make prospects available on a stage bigger than the back fields of spring training site. For the Rays, they take on future players of the Boston Red Sox March 13 at Charlotte Sports Park, a 7:05 start. “This game allows them to go out and showcase themselves a little bit more, publicly” Cash said. “They get to have fun with this and play against the Red Sox prospects. Hopefully, the players look at this game as a reward and to represent us.” Shortstop Carson Williams headlines the Rays’ roster. At the same time, injured players Xavier Issac and Tre’ Morgan will not participate.”
