PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- The Rays sent a big group of players down to Minor League camp on Wednesday, a mix of MLB-ready reserves and top prospects who could all contribute in the big leagues later this year.
The Rays reassigned shortstop Carson Williams (their top prospect and MLB Pipeline’s No. 9 overall prospect) and outfielder Chandler Simpson (their No. 7 prospect) to Minor League camp along with catcher Kenny Piper. They also optioned outfielders Jake Mangum and Kameron Misner, relievers Cole Sulser and Jacob Waguespack and catcher Logan Driscoll to Triple-A Durham.
Williams and Simpson are key parts of an ascendant prospect core that finished last season with Double-A Montgomery. Rays manager Kevin Cash said the young hitters were “probably a little bit better” than expected, backing up the excitement within the organization about their future.
“The time we spent here, it was fun,” said first baseman Tre' Morgan, another part of that core who was previously reassigned to Minor League camp. “It was a privilege, honestly, to be able to learn from these older guys, learn from the team and show what we can do and show that we can help in the future.”
Williams, Simpson and Morgan (who is dealing with a right quad strain but is expected to be ready for Opening Day) will only be a call away down in Triple-A. It seems realistic that they could make an impact in the Majors at some point this season -- Williams with his all-around tools, Simpson with his game-changing speed and Morgan with his impressive approach at the plate.
“I think it's very important for them to get going in Triple-A, do their thing and get timed up. We're not going to make any rushed decisions,” Cash said. “But I hope that we're sitting there from the Major League point of view saying, 'When is this guy gonna get here? Because he can help us.'”
The same could be said for Mangum and Misner, two of the standout performers in Spring Training, as they are also bound for Triple-A Durham. Mangum, looking for his first shot in the Majors, hit .429 with a 1.217 OPS this spring. Having worked all winter to adjust his bat path after making his debut last season, Misner batted .394 with a 1.141 OPS in 14 games.
“The disappointment of not making the club is real, and it should be real for them because of the type of camp they had,” Cash said.
Sulser and Waguespack spent time with Tampa Bay last season and will likely be called upon again this year. Sulser pitched 11 2/3 scoreless innings for the Rays last season. Waguespack will remain in a two-inning relief role as he begins the year in Triple-A. Driscoll debuted last season and would be Tampa Bay's first call if Danny Jansen or Ben Rortvedt were unavailable.
Infielder Tanner Murray, first baseman Bob Seymour and outfielder Tristan Peters will continue playing with the Rays until they head north for their final two Grapefruit League games, but they were all informed Wednesday they will break camp with Durham.
Cash praised all three and highlighted Murray, the club’s Minor League Defensive Player of the Year last season who hit .355 with three homers this spring, as a “complete player (on) both sides of the ball.”
Game notes
• There were a lot of positives to take from the Rays’ 5-2 win over the Pirates at Charlotte Sports Park. Arguably the biggest one came in the ninth inning, when closer Pete Fairbanks breezed threw a perfect inning on 11 pitches.
After an outing Friday night that he called a “positive step” toward fixing some bad habits and returning to form, Fairbanks fired his fastball from 97-99 mph and only threw three balls compared to eight strikes. The right-hander retired Nick Gonzalez on a popup, then got DJ Stewart and Nick Yorke to hit into a pair of groundouts.
“That was probably the brightest spot of the day, and there was a lot to like,” Cash said. “That was awesome.”
• After an ugly start last Friday night, starter Zack Littell got back on track by working six innings against the Pirates. Littell gave up two runs on eight hits but didn’t walk anyone while recording five strikeouts, backing up his feeling that his last outing was just an off night.
“Definitely happy with it,” Littell said. “I just wanted to throw strikes, especially after the last one.”
• Josh Lowe continued a torrid stretch at the plate, going 3-for-3 with a double, and Jansen pulled another home run out to left field. But the biggest swing of the day came from Eloy Jiménez, who crushed a two-run homer off the batter’s eye in the second inning.
It’s unclear if the Rays will have a spot on their Opening Day roster for Jiménez, but the 28-year-old slugger has looked better at the plate lately, going 9-for-26 (.346) since March 4 after a 1-for-12 start.