Notes: Alvarado solid in live BP; Lowe at 1B, 3B

ST. PETERSBURG -- As the Rays continue to ramp up daily workouts, the team went through live batting practice on the field for the first time since Summer Camp began on Friday.

Tuesday’s workout started with the first group going through infield work. Yandy Diaz and Nate Lowe took grounders at third base, Daniel Robertson and Mike Brosseau took turns at shortstop, Joey Wendle handled the duties at second base and Ji-Man Choi got work done at first.

Following the 14-player group in the morning, the Rays set up the Trackman machine on the field, setting the stage for live BP. Anthony Banda was the first pitcher on the mound, and the left-hander had a solid outing against Mike Zunino, Kevin Kiermaier, Hunter Renfroe and Brandon Lowe.

The Rays simulated an at-bat, with pitching coach Kyle Snyder using instant feedback to call balls and strikes. Banda walked Zunino but bounced back to strike out Renfroe and Lowe.

“He looked good,” said manager Kevin Cash. “He’s worked his way back [from Tommy John surgery]. He throws pretty fearlessly. I watched him the other day get up on the mound and his first throw, he just let it go. That’s a good sign for a guy that has come back from injury, and he’s really confident with how his arm feels.”

Oliver Drake took the mound next. The righty, who is looking to prove he can be just as effective versus right-handed hitters, faced Willy Adames, Michael Perez, Yoshitomo Tsutsugo and Zunino. Andrew Kittredge also threw a live BP, facing Kiermaier, Renfroe, Brandon and Adames.

But perhaps the most anticipated session came from José Alvarado, who struggled last season but has as much talent as anybody in the Rays’ bullpen.

Facing Tsutsugo, Zunino and Kiermaier in his first live BP on the mound, Alvarado bounced the first two pitches against Tsutsugo but was able to battle back to strike him out swinging on the seventh pitch of the at-bat.

Alvarado also struck out Zunino and got Kiermaier to ground out weakly. He threw 15 pitches, 10 of them for strikes.

“I was really encouraged by Alvarado,” Cash said. “We know if he can establish strikes, that’s when he gets so many chases out of the zone. He knows that he has to do that first. He’s got to establish that he can land the fastball and the breaking ball. The power looks unbelievable. He was throwing 97 mph the other day, and I don’t know what the gun reading was today, but I’m sure it was consistent with that.”

First or third?
Nathaniel Lowe has been fielding ground balls at third base during infield work, but Cash said the team still views him as a first baseman. Lowe is expected to get plenty of reps at third in order to add to his versatility, but he will also head back to first at times during camp.

Choi is the primary left-handed first baseman, but Lowe would be his replacement if Choi is injured or needs a day off.

“He looks good [at third base], but there’s work to be done,” Cash said. “The reps he’s getting now at third, I think it’s going to benefit him even when he goes back to first. He’ll get an equal amount, if not more amount, at first base throughout [Summer Camp].”

Wednesday plans
Wednesday will be the first time the Rays take part in a simulated game. Cash said it will be “pretty boring,” as it won’t be a full game and hitters won’t be allowed to run the bases.

Despite that, it’ll be the closest atmosphere to a game since camp began. Charlie Morton and Ryan Yarbrough are the expected pitchers, with the plan being for both to pitch four innings.

Cash also said the team will play another sim game on Thursday, and it’s possible that they’ll have a pair of players from the Port Charlotte, Fla., camp participating. It’s unclear who they will be, but catchers Kevan Smith and Chris Herrmann are two players expected to get plenty of reps.