Spring training is only a month away, and the Tampa Bay Rays and their fans are ecstatic for the arrival of baseball season. Currently, we will have five returning outfielders (Brandon Guyer, Desmond Jennings, Kevin Kiermaier, Mikie Mahtook, and Steven Souza Jr.) along with a rookie from the Durham Bulls (Taylor Motter).
MLB
Brandon Guyer- Guyer recently signed a one year contract with the Rays this month. Last season, Guyer had a fielding percentage of .994. He also had a on base percentage of .359.
Desmond Jennings- For the majority of last season, Jennings was out due to issues with his knee. Along with Guyer, he signed a one year contract this month. If Jennings stays healthy, he will be a huge asset to the team as he had a fielding percentage of 1.000 back in 2014.
Kevin Kiermaier-Kiermaier had an amazing season last year and ended up collecting a golden glove, a platinum glove, and a fielding bible award. If he continues his success this season, he will be the ace of the Rays outfield.
Mikie Mahtook- In the 41 games Mahtook played last season, he had a batting average of .295 with a slugging percentage of .619. Mahtook will probably play a full season with the Rays this year where he can continue to shine.
Steven Souza Jr.- The Rays acquired Souza last off season through the Wil Myers trade. Last season, Souza had only two errors through 103 games. He missed the last part of the season due to a broken hand, but once he’s back and healthy this season, he will most likely continue to produce for the Rays.
AAA
Taylor Motter- The Rays acquired Motter in the 17th round of the 2011 draft. Motter played college baseball at Coastal Carolina University. Last season in Durham, he had 72 RBIs with a batting average of .292. I don’t believe Motter will start the year in Tampa as the outfield is pretty stacked. However, his debut will come soon if he keeps on with his success in Durham.
