Walls on callup: 'They believe in me'

When Taylor Walls learned that the Rays had traded away shortstop Willy Adames, one thought crossed his mind.

"Just please be me."

Tampa Bay had three switch-hitting, 20-something middle infielders stowed at Triple-A Durham -- all of whom rank in the team’s top 10 prospects -- and Walls knew any of them could get the call up to the Majors. This time, instead of Wander Franco or Vidal Bruján, Walls was the one chosen.

“They were all happy for me; if it would’ve been them, I would’ve been all happy for them,” Walls said Saturday, hours before making his MLB debut against the Blue Jays. “We’re not cut-throat like that. It’s more of a brotherhood. Everyone’s gonna get their shot, it’s just God’s timing.”

The timing of the Adames trade has created an excellent opportunity for Walls, 24, who the Rays selected in the third round of the 2017 MLB Draft out of Florida State. General manager Erik Neander and manager Kevin Cash have both been “very open” with Walls about his role, which will include significant playing time at shortstop in the big leagues.

Walls is grateful to receive some runway at baseball’s highest level, knowing that not every at-bat will make or break his standing with the club.

“They believe in me,” he said. “I can tell just how they presented this information to me and the conversations we were having, the sincerity in their voices. That means a lot to me, and it gives me the confidence to go out there and relax. Hopefully, not put too much stress on myself and just perform.”

He got off to a remarkable start in Saturday's 3-1 win, debuting with a pair of doubles, a pair of double plays turned and a run scored. He became the first Ray to record multiple extra-base hits in his debut, and became the third player in the modern era (since 1900) with an extra-base hit from both sides of the plate in his MLB debut, along with Rich Becker (two doubles) in 1993 and George Wright (double, home run) in 1982, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Cash said team personnel at the alternate training site last year raved about Walls, and that praise hasn’t stopped in the early stages of the Minor League season. In Triple-A, Walls posted a .327/.468/.490 slash line in 14 games, playing a mix of second, short and third. He was the Rays’ defensive player of the year in the Minors in 2018-19, and Cash said team data shows he’s now hitting the ball a lot harder, too.

Hence the opportunity, which has a bit of stability baked into it.

“I think what we’ve learned over time with young players is [to] try to create a path, create a lane where they can just be themselves, be comfortable,” Cash said. “And let whatever they were doing that got ‘em here, to continue doing it.”

Feyereisen familiar with Rays past and present
J.P. Feyereisen, a Wisconsin native, left his home-state team when the Rays traded for him Friday. But there are a few faces in the Tampa Bay organization who should help him feel like he’s at home in no time: Francisco Mejía, Yandy Díaz and Louis Head.

Feyereisen met all three while playing for the Indians' organization. He began his pro career with Cleveland’s Short-Season A affiliate in 2014, where an 18-year-old Mejía was his first catcher.

“I actually threw really well to him, so I’m kind of excited to throw to him again,” said Feyereisen, who pitched 17 scoreless innings for the Mahoning Valley Scrappers that year.

Now, reuniting with some old connections will help Feyereisen settle into his new surroundings. And before he left Milwaukee, a pair of former Rays (Avisaíl García and Daniel Robertson) boasted to Feyereisen about where he was headed.

“Both of them, the entire time, they’re like, ‘You’re gonna love it, you’re gonna love it. It’s awesome. It’s one of the best atmospheres. Just enjoy it,’” Feyereisen said. “Everything I’ve heard about the Rays’ organization, it’s just been awesome and exciting. … It seems like everyone that’s played here and been through here has loved it and enjoyed their time here.”

He might not gain a full enjoyment of his new surroundings until he’s fully moved in, though. Feyereisen left the Brewers while they were on a road trip in Cincinnati, which means his only current possessions are what he brought on that trip.

Fortunately, having grown up four hours from Milwaukee, Feyereisen enlisted the help of his parents to pack up his old apartment. Soon, his truck will be shipped south to St. Petersburg.

“Right now, I’m living with the clothes I had on the road for our road trip, and that’s all I have,” he said. “But that’s the life of a baseball player: living out of a suitcase.”