This pair of new Rays has fit right in

This story was excerpted from Adam Berry’s Rays Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

ST. PETERSBURG -- It was a tumultuous day when manager Kevin Cash revealed on July 25 that the Rays would be without both Mike Zunino and Kevin Kiermaier for the rest of the season. Zunino needed surgery to address thoracic outlet syndrome, while Kiermaier eventually had surgery on his left hip. Tampa Bay had to move on without its veteran power-hitting catcher and energetic, defensively elite center fielder.

Fast-forward nearly two months to Sunday afternoon at Tropicana Field. In the second inning of the Rays’ 5-3 win over the Rangers, Christian Bethancourt went deep to left-center field off Texas starter Glenn Otto. After rounding the bases, Bethancourt was greeted with a big hug from Jose Siri.

Then Siri bashed a shot of his own to left, giving Tampa Bay back-to-back homers for the fifth time this season. Waiting for him? Bethancourt, of course.

“When I hit mine, he came out and hugged me,” Bethancourt said. “I felt like I needed to return the hug.”

“It was really fun,” Siri said through interpreter Manny Navarro.

It was a time for them to appreciate each other, sure, but also a moment to appreciate what they’ve done to help replace two pillars of the Rays’ recent run of success.

Bethancourt is not Zunino, just as Siri is not Kiermaier. But Bethancourt has brought poise behind the plate and a powerful right-handed bat. Siri has been dazzling in center field, a terror on the basepaths and perhaps better than expected at the plate.

The Rays did well to identify Siri's ability when they acquired him as part of a three-team trade with the Astros and Orioles before the Deadline. He has also helped them create runs whenever he has been on base, as he entered the week with 30 runs since Aug. 12, tied for most in the Majors over that span.

“They've done a tremendous job,” Cash said. “Give our front office some credit for recognizing little things to allow us to get those guys.”

Bethancourt came to the Rays on July 9 in an under-the-radar trade for prospects Cal Stevenson and Christian Fernandez. In 36 games with Tampa Bay, the 31-year-old is hitting .248/.254/.463 with seven homers. He has also handled the difficult task of learning a pitching staff -- and a challenging one to catch, at that, given their many arm angles and differing profiles -- on the fly.

“He has had a huge impact. It was kind of a quiet pickup that has worked out really well,” Cash said of Bethancourt. “We've gotten a good hitter. He's shown for more power. The catching has just been outstanding, the way he has made progress, so give him a lot of credit.”

While Bethancourt might have gotten more attention for his Shohei Ohtani moment, touching 95 mph during a pitching appearance, his arm has been a bigger asset behind the plate. He has thrown out 11 of 25 attempted basestealers this season, including eight of 16 with the Rays. His arm strength on “max effort” throws is 88.4 mph, according to Statcast, the best in the Majors.

“He's really gifted. Wow, he's made some incredible throws,” said Rays field coordinator Paul Hoover, who works with their catchers. “I haven't seen too many throw like him.”

Nor will you see many outfielders run down balls like Siri, who ranks second among qualified outfielders with 13 outs above average this season.

“You don't see many guys like Jose that you can put in the same category as KK,” Cash said. “Defensively, he's done a lot of special things.”