Patiño feels 'super good' in efficient debut

NORTH PORT, Fla. -- Nine days after being scratched from his scheduled Spring Training debut due to shoulder soreness, right-hander Luis Patiño finally got into a game Thursday afternoon and made quick work of the Braves' lineup in the Rays’ 5-1 win at CoolToday Park.

Patiño allowed a hit and a walk but induced two double-play grounders in two innings, needing only 19 pitches to complete his first official outing of the spring. After a seven-pitch leadoff walk by Orlando Arcia, Patiño didn’t throw more than three pitches to any of the other five batters he faced. Wander Franco and Yandy Díaz turned a double play behind Patiño in the first, then Brandon Lowe and Franco teamed up for an inning-ending double play in the second.

Patiño said through interpreter Manny Navarro he felt “super good” on the mound, running his fastball velocity up to 95 mph and utilizing his offspeed stuff. Patiño reiterated Thursday he believes it was smart to delay his first outing rather than risk further injury by pushing through the shoulder soreness he felt on March 22.

“He said he felt great, so that was encouraging,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said.

The 22-year-old is scheduled to pitch again Tuesday, but even if he adds another inning, he likely won’t be built up enough to work five innings in his first start of the regular season. However, Patiño said he has no doubt he’ll be ready to go this time next week.

“I feel good. I feel strong. I've got a lot of confidence out there,” he said. “I'm ready to just continue on and stay consistent and be ready to go.”

Fairbanks update
Reliever Pete Fairbanks, who will be shut down from throwing for six weeks after receiving a second opinion from Dr. Anthony Romero on Saturday, said he will soon receive a platelet-rich plasma injection aimed to promote healing in his partially torn right lat.

Fairbanks said he felt his lat tighten up on his fourth pitch Sunday. When it flared up again on his fifth and final pitch, he knew it was going to be an issue. But Fairbanks is taking an optimistic outlook, knowing he has already battled back from two Tommy John surgeries in his career.

“I’ve dealt with some things like this in the past, and it is frustrating,” Fairbanks said. “But I’ve come back from each of my injuries throwing harder with better stuff than I did before, so hopefully that stays on trend for dealing with this.

“This one has been the most frustrating for me because I felt like, with where I was at and how things had been feeling and being in the zone with three pitches, this could not come at a worse time in that regard. But it’s not something that I feel like is going to go away. I have that feeling very much ingrained from how this offseason had been and how good it had been feeling throwing the ball.”

Around the horn
• Kevin Kiermaier (left groin tightness) and Austin Meadows (oblique) made healthy returns to the lineup. Kiermaier started in center field and went 1-for-2 with a double and two of the Rays’ 11 walks, while Meadows recorded an RBI single and a walk as the DH.

• Veteran starter Corey Kluber threw 68 pitches over five innings, and relayed that he felt stronger as the outing progressed, in a live batting practice session Thursday afternoon at Charlotte Sports Park.

• Corner outfielder/designated hitter Harold Ramirez fielded ground balls at first base on Thursday. Ramirez told Cash he felt comfortable practicing there after playing first this offseason. The Rays already have a potential platoon at first with Ji-Man Choi and Yandy Díaz, but Ramírez could provide another right-handed-hitting option there if he takes to the position.

• The Rays have expanded their “Salute to Service” ticket program to include nurses in the Tampa Bay area. The program is available to active-duty military and veterans, teachers and first responders, offering two complimentary tickets for regular-season home games and discounted tickets for other identified games. Eligible fans can claim their tickets at RaysBaseball.com/Military, RaysBaseball.com/Teachers or RaysBaseball.com/FirstResponders.

“The Rays' fan base includes many people who make it their job to serve all of us and our neighbors,” Rays president Brian Auld said in a statement. “It is a small gesture but a big honor to recognize their sacrifice and extend the Salute to Service program to nurses, first responders, military, veterans and teachers. We’re glad to have you at the ballpark with us.”

Up next
Left-hander Ryan Yarbrough will start for the Rays as they return to Charlotte Sports Park on Friday afternoon to host the Red Sox. Veteran left-hander Rich Hill is set to start for Boston. First pitch is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. ET. The television broadcast will air on Bally Sports Sun and MLB.TV, with a Rays Radio broadcast available on MLB.com.