Getting To Know The Red Hot Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays have been Major League Baseball’s hottest team to start the season, as they needed no time at all to find their stride once the real games began. Because they aren’t one of the headliner teams of the sport, many might look at their record and wonder how they’ve been playing so well.

Most baseball fans remember the type of impact former Rays manager Joe Maddon had on the franchise, as they stood their ground for nine years in a difficult American League East division. It might surprise some that current Rays manager Kevin Cash is in his ninth season managing Tampa Bay, and has had a similarly successful track record.

A team with limited financial resources can’t outspend its competitors, so it needs to operate more efficiently since their margin for error is much thinner. General Manager Peter Bendix and President Erik Neander have continued to do a phenomenal job executing this plan. Their loaded team is made up of successful players that many organizations could have had.

Since he was called up to the Major Leagues in 2021, shortstop Wander Franco has demonstrated an excellent eye at the plate. He’s hit no worse than .275 in any of his previous seasons, which is remarkable considering that he is still just 22 years old. Franco has been more aggressive on the bases this season, as he is on pace to shatter his previous carries high for stoles bags.

Shane McClanahan is just 26 years old, but has the inside track towards winning his first career Cy Young award. He finished sixth in the voting last year, and has been nothing short of sensational in 2023. He’s lowered his ERA to a microscopic figure as he’s flummoxed hitters throughout the batting order.

The Rays have two players who spell their surnames L-o-w-e, but pronounce it completely different ways. Tomato, toh-mato, as both Brandon Lowe and Josh Lowe have been fixtures in the Tampa lineup for a few years. Brandon is more of a threat to hit home runs, but Josh has been more consistent from a batting average standpoint.

The Rays have also received impressive contributions from 22 year-old starting pitcher Taj Bradley. His innings will likely be monitored throughout the season, but he could provide the shot in the arm that the Rays rotation needs to make a deep postseason run. If he remains effective, it would not be surprising to see the team move him to the bullpen down the stretch.

Bendix and Neander both deserves credit for acquiring Zach Eflin, who has fit in seamlessly in the Tampa rotation. Eflin spent the first seven seasons of his career in the National League with the Philadelphia Phillies, but has seemed to find the consistent success that often eluded him in his prior big league career.

Randy Arozarena and Yandy Diaz are both hitting over .300 to start the season, which makes the Rays lineup awfully difficult to pitch to. Arozarena has been something of a central figure in the Rays recent success, as he’s not afraid to take the extra base or drive in runs with men on. At this rate, both would figure to be strongly considered for All Star nods.