No. 1 on the mound? That'll be Patiño

ST. PETERSBURG -- Luis Patiño spent his first season with the Rays wearing a No. 61 jersey. He wore the same uniform number with Tampa Bay throughout Spring Training, too. Then earlier this week, all of a sudden, there was a new jersey with the right-hander’s name on it inside his locker: the Rays’ No. 1.

First, it’s worth noting that No. 1 wasn’t Patiño’s first choice. He had his eye on the No. 16, but it was already accounted for. That’s the number on manager Kevin Cash’s seldom-worn jerseys.

“I would have given it to him. I have no problem with it, seeing that I don't wear a jersey very often,” Cash said Sunday, laughing. “If he wants to go win a Cy Young, he can have it.”

Patiño chose No. 1 instead for a few reasons. First, it has a connection to his father’s birthday. Second, it’s a sign of respect for former Rays shortstop Willy Adames and “the way he went about his business,” Patiño said through interpreter Manny Navarro. Finally, Patiño wants the number to represent his own work ethic.

“Just to always be first, always try to keep that number in mind to always think about being disciplined and having that opportunity to do what I can do,” he said.

He’ll have his first chance to do so on Monday night, when he takes the mound to start the Rays’ series opener against the A’s at Tropicana Field at 6:40 p.m. The 22-year-old might be a little limited out of the gate, as his already-shortened Spring Training was briefly disrupted by soreness in his right shoulder, but he believes he had enough time to get the necessary work in.

“I feel really good. Thankfully, my shoulder feels good. My body feels good. Everything just feels good physically,” Patiño said. “I think I'm mentally ready for tomorrow, and I think I've prepared how I need to prepare for it.”

And if this turns out to be the start of the breakout season the Rays believe Patiño is capable of, might he be wearing Cash’s No. 16 this time next year?

“If I do well with this number,” Patiño said, “I'm just going to keep that number and see how long it goes.”

Around the horn
• Reigning American League Rookie of the Year Randy Arozarena accepted his award during a pregame ceremony on Saturday. Arozarena was surrounded by his family, including his children and brother Raiko, as he received the plaque from general manager Peter Bendix. Arozarena said he’d find a place for the award in his house, and he was happy to share the recognition with the fans at Tropicana Field.

“I'm very happy to be able to receive this award, especially because it reflects on the sacrifices I've had to make for my family, for myself personally, for all the teammates that I've been around that have given me support,” Arozarena said through Navarro. “That's what kind of gets me going.”

• Catcher/infielder Ford Proctor, the Rays’ No. 23 prospect, was named the winner of the 2022 Al Lopez Award, presented annually to the club’s most outstanding rookie in Spring Training camp. Proctor went 6-for-12 with a homer, three doubles and five RBIs while splitting time between catcher, second base and DH. Proctor carried that momentum into the start of the season with Triple-A Durham, going 5-for-10 with one double, two RBIs and three walks in his first three games.

• The Rays loaded up the bottom of their lineup with right-handed hitters against Orioles right-hander Tyler Wells on Sunday, including Harold Ramírez at DH and Manuel Margot in center field. Wells was tough on left-handed hitters last season, but Cash said the Rays’ lineup decisions were more about keeping their outfield rotation in play. Kevin Kiermaier and Brett Phillips started Saturday while Margot sat, then Sunday’s lineup had Margot starting (with Josh Lowe in right field) while Kiermaier and Phillips were available off the bench.

• Right-hander Andrew Kittredge picked up a win on Opening Day and a save on Saturday, making him the third pitcher in franchise history to record a win and a save within the team’s first two games of the season. Rafael Soriano first accomplished the feat in 2010, and Fernando Rodney did it in '12.