Rays speedsters ready to burn up basepaths again in '24

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.

DENVER -- In the bottom of the sixth inning March 29, Jose Siri smacked a single to center field off Blue Jays reliever Wes Parsons and danced off first base. He quickly stole second on a 1-0 pitch to catcher Ben Rortvedt. Two of Parsons’ next three throws were pickoff attempts, then Siri was off again.

The speedy center fielder slid into third base safely, beating the tag from Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and pumped his fists. The Rays were up at that point, 5-1, but the crowd responded to meet Siri’s energy. Siri soon scored on a groundout, effectively creating a run with his speed.

A similar scene unfolded in the seventh inning on Saturday. Randy Arozarena swatted a single to left field off reliever Génesis Cabrera and induced two pickoff attempts with a 2-2 count on Isaac Paredes. Arozarena immediately stole second, with no throw, then slid into third as Paredes struck out on the very next pitch. He promptly scored on the bunt by José Caballero that led to both benches clearing.

The Rays ranked fourth in the Majors in stolen bases last season, swiping 160 bags to finish behind only the Reds, D-backs and Royals. They set out this spring to be more aggressive on the bases this year, and they stole at least one in each of their first seven games, racking up nine total while being caught twice.

How might one summarize their approach on the basepaths so far?

“I would say instead of being aggressive, it would be, be under control,” veteran Amed Rosario said through interpreter Manny Navarro. “There’s a lot of different situations that can happen out there. Bad things can happen, but you learn from it. Whatever we can control is the main message that [manager Kevin Cash] sent to us.”

Or, as Cash put it, “I like it when we’re safe. I don’t like it when we’re out.”

Cash said in Spring Training he expected the Rays would run a lot “because I think our speed is going to allow us to do it.” Given the injuries they’re dealing with, specifically to key left-handed hitters Josh Lowe and Jonathan Aranda, the running game could be an asset for their lineup.

Tampa Bay is currently without four of the six players who stole at least 10 bases for the club last season: Lowe (32 steals in 2023, now on the injured list), Wander Franco (30, administrative leave), Taylor Walls (22, injured) and Luke Raley (14, traded). The Rays still have speed all over the diamond, though. That’s especially true in the outfield, with Arozarena, Siri, Rosario and Richie Palacios, and with Caballero at shortstop.

But there has to be a balance between being aggressive and, as Rosario put it, being under control. For instance, Cash noted this week the Rays must be more mindful when it comes to stealing third base. If they’re on second, they’re already in scoring position. As much as the extra 90 feet can help, the risk of making an out at third will often outweigh the reward.

But make no mistake: These Rays are going to run.

“It’s another year getting comfortable with what the rules are,” second baseman Brandon Lowe said during Spring Training. “We’ve got a lot of guys that can steal a lot of bases. As long as they’re smart about it and don’t do dumb things on the basepaths, I’m all for it.”

MLB.com reporter Brian Murphy contributed reporting to this newsletter.