TAMPA, Fla. – During the first week of July, American League and National League starters for the All-Star game were announced. No surprise on the timing and no surprise the usual suspects were rounded up. The names of Aaron Judge, Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., and Shohei Ohtani are familiar and dominate the selection process.
With the game scheduled for Truist Park in Atlanta on July 15, there is plenty of time to name the reminder of the squad and each club will attempt to influence and promote. A common refrain around the ballparks these days, is “vote for …” and fill in players from that home stadium. Announcement of reserve players and the pitching staff are scheduled for 5 p.m. Eastern time on July 6.
Of teams and personnel endorsing players, the Tampa Bay Rays appear to be most curious.
Here’s a team that foundered for nearly the first two months of the season, clearly flew under the radar screen and gathered little or no national attention. Now, the Rays suddenly find themselves battling the Blue Jays and Yankees for first place in the American League East and squarely in the middle of any post-season conversation.
Granted, the time is still much too early to discuss October baseball. At the same time, those players from Tampa Bay worthy of All-Star consideration are directly responsible for the rise of the club through the standings.
Within the offense, two veterans now carry the club on their shoulders. Second baseman Brandon Lowe and Yandy Diaz, the club’s chief designated hitter, each put up ferocious numbers in June and represent the catalyst for any post-season conversation.
“Not enough people are talking about our group, and the consideration of our group, as a whole,” said Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash. “We feel we have a bunch of All-Star candidates, and just hopefully they continue to get consideration and recognized. There is a bunch of them that are putting together a special first half. I’m glad we’re talking about this, and our fans see it that way, too.”
Coming into play July 4, Lowe has an 18-game hitting streak and that represents the second longest since Diaz hit in 20 straight from June 7-28, 2024. In this period, Lowe is hitting .388 with 6 homers and 14 RBIs. He lifted his season batting average from below .200 in early May to .274 during the first week in July. That is considerably above his career batting of .245 over parts of seven-year major league seasons.
” I’ve always said that (Lowe) is the best hitter we have here,” Diaz said through an interpreter. “It’s good to have him in front of me in the lineup. Hopefully, he’ll continue to swing the bat well and we can continue to win games.”
Coming into games on July 3, Lowe was tied for fifth in homers in the AL and tied for 10th with Diaz in total base.
For Diaz, he currently (through July 4) has a 26-game on-base streak and is hitting .404 during this period. This represents the second-longest on-base streak of his career, and the other dates from May 26 to June 28, 2024.
In promotion of his team, Cash advances the accomplishments and virtues of others, including first baseman Jonathan Aranda (third in the American League in batting average, second in on-base percentage), and Junior Caminero (third in home runs, sixth in extra-base hits, sixth in total bases, sixth in RBIs). Cash also cited pitcher Drew Rasmussen for All-Star consideration. With a 7-5 record but a 2.79 ERA, Rasmussen is 10th in the AL in ERA, and seventh in hits allowed per nine innings. Starter Shane Baz, with a season mark of 8-3 and 4.33 ERA, is sixth in the league in win-loss percentage.
These players will know their 2025 All-Star fate on July 6.
Next … Going forward, the Rays face the most challenging portion of the schedule. Because of the frequency of rain and strong prospects of delays and rainouts, the club played the most home games of any team through the opening three months. Now, Tampa Bay plays 35 of their next 49 (from July 4 to Aug. 31) on the road. … First up, the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Righty Zack Littell (7-7, 3.6 ERA) opens the trip for Tampa Bay and draws righty Chris Paddock (3-7, 4.70) as his mound opponent. On Saturday, it’s Taj Bradley (5-6, 4.79) for the Rays, and the Twins are undecided. In the finale on Sunday, look for Drew Rasmussen (7-5, 2.78) to take on righty Joe Ryan (8-4, 2.75). Then, it’s off for three in Detroit and four in Boston before the All-Star break.
