Rays Preview 2026 by Times Total Media

Freshfaces,newspaces?

2026isaseasonofchangefortheRays,fromownershiptoplayerstostadiumsrevivedandyettoberealized.

Cedric Mullins

Steven Matz

Gavin Lux

Jake Fraley

Ben Williamson

Nick Martinez

Photos by DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times, Photo illustration by SEAN KRISTOFF-JONES | Times

RAYS 2026 SCHEDULE

MARCH -- APRIL

Schedulemagnet

TropicanaFieldtourtee

JULY11VS.MARINERS:EvanLongoriasnapback

JULY12VS.MARINERS:EvanLongoriabobblecard

JULY25VS.GUARDIANS:DevilRaysretrosnapback

JULY26VS.GUARDIANS: Raymondshoulderplush

AUG.1VS.WHITESOX:CityConnectpatchbutton-up

AUG.15VS.ORIOLES: FlappyBoibobblehead

AUG.29VS.PADRES: DevilRayswindbreaker

SEPT.12VS.ASTROS: Rayshockeyjersey

Tropicana Field lightup replica (Tampa Bay Rays)

26 THINGS ABOUT THE 2026 SEASON

BY MARC TOPKIN | Times Staff Writer

Amid all the moving parts going into this season, the one sure thing if it’s OK to say that out loud is that the Rays are moving back to the hurricane-damaged, and since-repaired, Tropicana Field, with the welcome-back party kicking off on April 6. That move back indoors will be most welcome on many levels after the Rays spent the 2025 season playing in the heat, humidity and occasional rain outdoors at Tampa’s Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring and minor-league stadium.

But it’s not the only notable thing about the ’26 season, as we’ve come up with 26 more.

New bosses

Changesforthisseasonstartatthe top,withanewownershipgroupled byPatrickZalupski,CEOof Jacksonville-basedDreamFindersHomes;Bill Cosgrove,CEOofOhio-basedUnion HomeMortgage;andKenBabby,who ownedandoperatedminor-league teamsinAkron,Ohio,andJacksonville.

Thegroup,whichpaidareported$1.7 billionfortheteam,includesabout30 otherpartners,somefromtheTampa Bayarea,ofvariousinvestmentlevels, pluspreviousprincipalownerStuart Sternberg,whoretainedabout10%. Asyoumayhaveheard,thenew group’stoppriorityisgettinganew ballparkbuiltinTampaaspartofa live/work/learn/playcomplex,open intimeforthe2029season.

You’ll be forgiven if it takes a few weeks to learn all the new Rays players, like pitcher Steven Matz.

(DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times)

The Rays’ new ownership group consists of Bill Cosgrove, left, Patrick Zalupski, center, and Ken Babby. (DIRK SHADD | Times, 2025) See 26 THINGS, 6X

Home sweet dome

AstheCityofSt.Petersburgwasorchestrating$60millioninrepairstomaketheTrop playable,withanewroofandartificialturf fieldmostvisible,theownersweremaking otheradditionsandimprovements.Those includeanewsoundsystem,enlarged videoboards,refurbishedsuites,expanded premiumareasandsomeupgradedplayer facilities.“Theballpark,”Babbysaid,“isgoing tolookbetterthanit’severlooked.”

In a related matter

PlayinggamesinthecontrolledTropenvironmentwillbewelcominglydifferentthan lastseason,whentheRayshadtoadaptto thechangingconditionsatSteinbrenner wherethecombinationoftheheat,humidity andwindpatternswiththedimensions(specificallytowardcozyrightfield)wasamajor factor.

Towit:TheRayshit96homersandallowed 111athome,themostcombinedinfranchise history.Ofthose207,126werehittorightor right-center(secondmosttoonlyYankee Stadium,afterwhichSteinbrennerFieldwas modeled),whichwas59morehomersthan attheTropin2024.Shortversionofgoing backtotheTrop:Expectthepitcherstolikeit, thehittersnotsomuch.

What goes up ...

Ex-RayKevinKiermaier,oneofthegame’s bestdefensiveoutfielders,usedtonotethe challengesintheTropofcatching“adirty

TV change-up

Eveniftheresultsweretobesimilartothe pasttwofrustratingseasons,watchingRays gameswillbedifferentthisyear.

Theteamditchedthefinanciallystruggling FanDuelSportsNetworkandwillhaveits gamesproducedanddistributedbyMajor LeagueBaseball,leadingtothecreationof Rays.TV.

Fanscanbuyastreamingplan withno blackoutsintheRays’homemarket for $99.99forthefullseason.Thegamesalso willbeavailableviaTampaBay-areacable/ satellite/Internetcarriers,suchasSpectrum.

Just a slide to the right

whiteballagainstadirtywhiteroof.”Thenew roofissaidtobebrighter,soitwillbeinterestingtoseewhatthatmeans.(Andifthefinal spotsoftancoloringfromthemanufacturing processhavebeenbleachedoutbythesun.)

Thoughnodetailshadbeenannouncedby mid-March,theteamsaiditexpectedthe gamestobeshownbyalltheservicesthat carriedtheFanDuelproductions. Thoughtherewillbesomechangesto thepregameandpostgamecoverage, on-screengraphics,playeraccessandvideo technology,thepeoplecallingthegameswill befamiliar.

DewayneStaatswillreturnforhis29thseasonwiththeRaysand51stoverall,joinedby analystBrianAndersonandreporterRyan Bass.RichHollenbergandDougWaechter willleadthepregameshow.

Theradiobroadcasts,ontheotherhand,will beprettymuchthesame, with Andy Freed and Neil Solondz calling the games, and Chris Adams-Wall hosting the pregame and postgame programming. The only real change was flagship stationWDAEgetting amajorboostinpowerbymovingitsFMslot from95.3to95.7.

See 26 THINGS, 7X

A cleat-level view of the warning track and outfield turf looking toward home plate at Tropicana Field. (DIRK SHADD | Times)

TV and streaming platforms may have changed for Rays games, but Dewayne Staats still will be a familiar face for fans. (Times, 2022)

26 THINGS

continued from 6X

Out with the old

Aftermissingtheplayoffsforasecond straightseasonandwinningonly77games, theRaysmadeamassiveoverhauloftheir rosterduringthewinter.

Thatincludedpartingwayswith23ofthe 49playerswhofinishedlastseasonontheir rosterorinjuredlist.Indoingso,theymade17 trades,whichinvolved37players,twodraft picksandsixchecks/wiretransferstocover

In with the new

ThisRaysteamisgoingto looksignificantlydifferent thanlastyear’swiththepossibility pendingthefinal cutsandmoves thatonly 10ofthe26playersactiveto startlastseasonwillbeback. Related,therecouldbeeight to10playersinuniformon March26inSt.Louiswho wereacquiredsincetheend oflastseason.

Among the key new faces:

• OFJakeFraley

• 2BGavinLux

• SPNickMartinez

• SPStevenMatz

• OFCedricMullins

cashdeals.Theyalsodesignated17players forassignmentandwereinvolvedinseven waiverclaims.

Among those now working elsewhere:

• PShaneBaz,Orioles

• PPeteFairbanks,Marlins

• PAdrianHouser,Giants

• 2BBrandonLowe,Pirates

• OFJoshLowe,Angels

• OFJakeMangum,Pirates

• OFChristopherMorel,Marlins

• INFBenWilliamson Outfielder Jake Fraley is among the new faces popping up on the Rays roster this season.

See 26 THINGS, 8X

(DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times)

The Rays parted ways with Josh Lowe, among many others, in an offseason retooling of the roster. (CHRIS CARLSON | AP)

Coaches, too

Therearetwonewmembersofthemajor-league coachingstaff.OzzieTimmonswaspromotedto reclaimhispreviousjobasassistanthittingcoach afterBradyNorthwasletgo.AndCoreyDickersonwashiredasthefirstbase/outfieldcoach, replacingMichaelJohns,whowashiredasbench coachinWashington,workingforBlakeButera, theformerRaysplayerdevelopmentchiefhired asmanager.WillBradeyalsowaspromotedtoan assistanthittingcoachwhowillsplittimebetween thebig-leagueandTriple-Ateams.

Junior’s encore

JuniorCaminero’s2025breakoutseason at league-age21 wasremarkableinmanyways, mostnotablyforhitting45homeruns(second mostinfranchisehistory),logging110RBIs(fourth most),postinga.535sluggingpercentage(eighth most)andfinishingninthinALMVPvoting,all whilehittingtheballincrediblyhardandplaying soliddefenseatthird.Butthatwasallso lastseason.Caminero’schallengenow(withoutwhatever offensivebenefitSteinbrennerFieldmayhaveprovided)willbemeasuredagainstwhathedidthen.

The Shane train

Havingbeenderailedlastyear byalate-spring nerve issue that ended up sidelining him all season, Shane McClanahan will try again to make his first big-league start since Aug. 2, 2023, when he left with an elbow issue that led to his second Tommy John surgery. As of mid-March, the plan was for McClanahan topitchatthe backendoftherotationandmake hisfirststartMarch31,takingthe mound973daysafterhislastone.

Yandy Diaz’s longevity with the Rays has him climbing up franchise all-time lists.

Yandy vs. history

WiththetradeofBrandonLowe,YandyDiaz isnowthelongest-tenuredRay,havingbeen acquiredaheadofthe2019season.Hehas sinceswunghiswayintotheteamrecord

Closing committee

Indecliningan$11millionoptiononcloserPete Fairbanks wholedtheteaminsavesthe pastthreeseasons theRaysseemheaded backtothecloser-by-committeeformatthey’ve usedpreviously.GarrettCleavinger,Griffin

books,rankingfifthinhits(882;No.4BJUpton, 910),andruns(431;No.4Upton,539),sixthin gamesplayed(816,No.5KevinKiermaier,914) anddoubles(171;No.5AubreyHuff,172),eighth inRBIs(396;No.7,Lowe,446)

JaxandEdwinUceta(afterwhatisexpected tobeashortseason-openinginjuredliststint) aretheleadingcandidates.TheRaysinthe COVID-shortened60-game2020seasontied theMLBrecordwith12pitchersearningsaves, thenraiseditto14in2021and2024.TheDiamondbackslastseasonhikedtherecordto17.

A long streak

JonathanArandaopensthisseasonona seven-gamehittingstreak thatstarted July28,beforehesustainedabrokenleft wristinNewYork,andreturnedforthe finalthreegames.

Cash money

AsKevinCashheadsintohis12th season,heisthewinningestof thefivemanagersinRayshistory andthelongesttenuredinthe majorswithhiscurrentteam. With896careerwins,healreadyranks77thonthe all-timemanager’slist.Amongthosewhohave managedonlyoneteam,heranksninth,perStats Perform,havingclimbedpastCitoGaston(Blue Jays,894)andBillTerry(Giants,823).

Ahead of Cash are:

• WalterAlston,Dodgers,2,040

• MikeScioscia,Angels,1,650

• TommyLasorda,Dodgers,1,599

• EarlWeaver,Orioles,1,480

• TomKelly,Twins,1,140

• HughieJennings,Tigers,1,131

• DannyMurtaugh,Pirates,1,115

• RedSchoendienst,Cardinals,1,041

No one will be happier than starter Shane McClanahan when he returns to regularseason game action.

Cold start

TobuyextratimeforTrop repairsandrenovations tobecompleted,theRays askedMLBtoschedule themontheroadforthefirst threeseriesoftheseason. MLBcompliedbutleftthe Raysoutinthecoldasthey openwithalate-March/ early-AprilswingthroughSt. Louis,Milwaukee(whichat leasthasadomedstadium) andMinnesota.TylerWall’s clubhousecrewwillneedto packjacketsforawhile,as theRays’nextthreetripsare toChicagoandPittsburgh, April14-19;Cleveland,April 27-29;andBostonand Toronto(whichhasadome), May7-13.

Junior Caminero’s numbers were eye-popping and All-Star-worthy in 2025. Can he surpass them in 2026? (Phots by DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times)

(DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times)

26 THINGS

Trippin’

Thatseason-openingnine-game,11-dayroad tripisthelongestoftheseasonintermsof length.Distance-wise,they’vegotanine-game, 10-daytrektoDenver,SeattleandSacramento, California.Theydogetalittlebitofabreakwith theirotherWestCoasttripinstayingintheLos Angelesarea,playingtheDodgersandAngels back-to-backinmid-June.

Historical context

Thisisjustthefifthtimein29seasonstheRays haveopened(atCardinals)andclosedaseason (atPhillies)ontheroad.Alsoin2006(thefirst yearofStuartSternberg’sownership),2007, 2008and2021.

Key dates

FranchiseiconEvanLongoriawillbecelebrated withinductionintotheteamHallofFameon July11andretirementofhisNo.3onJuly12,with giveawaysinhishonorbothdays Though theRaysplayattheDodgersandPhillies,they dohostseveralpopularNLteams:Cubs,April 6-8;Padres,Aug.28-30;Mets,Aug 31-Sept.2. ... Amongcoolpromotionalgiveaways:BobbleheadsforJonathanAranda(May16),Junior Caminero(May30),theFlappyBoimascot(Aug. 15),and“bobblelegs”forspeedyoutfielderChandlerSimpson(June27);twoTrop-themeditems, T-shirt(April25)andlight-upstadiumreplica (May2);andaRayshockeyjersey(Sept.12).

Hot start?

TheRayshaveanopportunityforaconfidence-buildinggoodstart,astheyface teamsthatfinishedlastseason.500or belowintwooftheirfirstthreeseries,four ofseven,sixof11.Butafterthattheyplay threestraightseriesagainsttheBlueJays andRedSox,andfourofthefollowing sixagainstthenotablyimprovedOrioles, YankeesandTigers.

On the run

Thecasthaschangedabit,butexpectthe Raystobeontherunagainthisyear.Last seasontheyledthemajorswith194steals, alsomatchingtheirteamrecordfrom 2009.Itwasthefourthtimetheyledthe majorsoverall,andseventhtimeatopthe AL.Sincetheir1998debut,theRayshave fouroftheAL’ssix-highestteamtotals.

Speed and power

TheRaysalsohavealittlelesspowerafter tradingBrandonLowebutcanaimto matchanothernotablemark.Lastseason theywerethesixthteaminmajor-league historytogo180-180 hittingatleast180 homersandstealingatleast180bases.For whatit’sworth,theywent44-25ingames whentheyhadatleastoneofeach,and 32-61whentheydidn’t.Theother180-180 teamincludedthe2009Rays(199-194), plusthe2003Reds(198-190),2016Brewers(194-181),1998BlueJays(221-184)and 1996Rockies(221-201).

See 26 THINGS, 10X

This Evan Longoria bobblecard will be given away on July 12. (Tampa Bay Rays)

Whither Wander?

Hold the plane …

Thisyear’stradedeadlineisAug.3, thefirstdayofaseriesinColorado. Thatmeansduringtheoft-busy nightbeforethedeadline,theRays willbeonaplaneforaboutfour hours.InJuly2024,adealtotrade RandyArozarenatoSeattlewas agreedtoastheRayswereflying homefromToronto,andhewas notifiedassoonastheylanded.

The company you keep

TheRaysareheadingintoathirdstraightseason withoutknowingthefateorfutureoftheirprevious franchise-bestplayer.WanderFranco,25,isstill fightinglegalbattlesstemmingfromarelationship witha14-year-oldgirlthatstartedin2022,whenhe was21.Franco,whohasnotplayedsinceAugust 2023,wasconvictedinJuneofsexualabuseofa minorandgivenatwo-yearsuspendedsentence (similartoprobation).

Heappealedandwasgrantedanewtrial,which initiallywasdelayedandnowisslatedtostart March30.Thisallmatters,becauseiffoundinnocenthecouldseekareturntotheRays(pending gettingavisaandpotentialMLBdiscipline),and becausetheteamstilloweshim$164million fromthe$182million,11-yearcontracthesignedin November2021.

And there’s this …

Thoughfrustratedwithmissing theplayoffsthelasttwoseasons aftergoingineachoftheprevious five,theRaysstillhaveatradition touphold.Their1,523winsand.541 winningpercentageoverthe18seasons(since2008)arethirdmostin themajors,trailingonlytheDodgers (1,649,.586)andYankees(1,607, .571).)Plus,theRays’nineplayoff berthsoverthatspanarefifthmost; thosegoingmoreoftenarethe Dodgers(15),Yankees(13),Braves (10)andCardinals(10).

Nomatterwhathappensthisseason,itprobably shouldbecherished withsomegamesrecordedorarchived asthe2027seasonmaybein jeopardygivenexpectationsofamajorlabornegotiationswarbetweenplayers,wholikethecurrent system,andowners,whowanttoinstitutesome formofasalarycap.

Contact Marc Topkin at mtopkin@tampabay.com Follow @TBTimes_Rays.

The Rays haven’t been to the postseason since 2023. (DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times, 2023)

RAYS RA 2026 SEASON

Yes, the Rays made a lot of personnel changes ahead of this season, but most of the buzz for 2026 has nothing to do with wins and losses.

BY MARC TOPKIN | Times Staff Writer

PORT CHARLOTTE As the Rays prepare for their 29th season, they have a lot of to put it politely stuff circling around them.

• New owners took over after last season, launching a different era led by co-chairs Patrick Zalupski and Bill Cosgrove and CEO Ken Babby, and ending a 20-year reign by Stuart Sternberg that was comfortable in the offices and successful on the field.

• A proposed new stadium in Tampa has dominated conversation about the team as the new group has made it an extreme and urgent priority, most notably in seeking a public contribution in excess of $1 billion and targeting an ambitious April 2029 opening.

• The old downtown St. Petersburg stadium, Tropicana Field, is actually of more immediate relevance, as it will reopen April 6 after repairs of the extensive damage from Hurricane Milton in October 2024 that forced the Rays to play last season at the Yankees’ spring/minorleague ballpark in Tampa.

• The team itself has a significantly different look after an extensive roster makeover including 17 trades, seven waiver claims and four free-agent signings. The outcome

See RAYS, 12X

PLAY BALL!

(potential distractions and all)

A series of “Rays Up” banners line the road to the parking lot of the main entrance to Tropicana Field as workers install panels on the stadium’s roof in November. After sitting idle for a season due to hurricane damage, the Trop reopens for 2026 in April. (DIRK SHADD | Times, 2025)

resulted in the departures of Shane Baz, Pete Fairbanks, Brandon Lowe, Josh Lowe and Jake Mangum; the addition of veterans Jake Fraley, Gavin Lux, Cedric Mullins, Nick Martinez and Steven Matz; an upgrade to the prospect talent base (timed to mature as the new stadium opens) and increased skepticism about their chances to win now by oddsmakers and “experts.”

And there’s other pending issues.

• An expected massive battle over a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between league owners and players could impact, or, worst case, even eliminate the 2027 season.

• Financial issues with FanDuel Sports Network’s parent company forced the team to move its TV deal to MLB’s in-house group (Rays.TV), which, at least initially, will create a substantial drop in revenue

• And with Wander Franco’s legal saga ongoing, there are lingering questions about him eventually seeking a return and the $164 million the Rays owe him which the team may want resolution on before signing another franchise-type player long term.

Individually, any of those issues could be considered somewhere between a point of discussion and a potential distraction.

But all together? That’s a lot for a team coming off two straight losing seasons and prepping for the grind of a 162-game schedule in an even more rugged and talent-laden American League East.

“More than anything else, I have a lot of confidence that the people playing this game they’re most important to all of this, our players that they’re dialed in, put blinders on and ear plugs in, or whatever they need to do, to go play baseball,” baseball operations president Erik Neander said.

“They’ve long been capable of doing that. As we’ve seen over time, we’ve had plenty of other stuff hanging over the head of our organization, and it’s never been any sort of distraction to our group.”

Past is prologue

The last half-dozen years certainly could have been a distraction.

• The challenges and complications of the Rays’ march to the 2020 World Series during the COVID-impacted season, playing in San Diego and Texas and living in the bubble.

• The September 2022 hurricane that wrecked their Port Charlotte training complex, forcing them to split spring 2023 between Disney World and Tropicana Field.

• The August 2023 week in which they lost their two best players, Franco due to the ini-

Playing under the lights at Steinbrenner Field was occasionally cool, but more seats, no

welcomed at Tropicana Field. (JEFFEREE WOO | Times, 2025)

tial investigation of an improper relationship, and starter Shane McClanahan requiring Tommy John surgery with neither yet returning to the majors.

• The previous latest and greatest stadium plan for a facility next to the current Trop site that was agreed to in September 2023, formally approved in July 2024 amid “Here to Stay” signs and T-shirts and then called off by Sternberg in March 2025.

• The complexities, cooperation and internal convincing to play the 2025 season at Steinbrenner Field, dealing with the heat, humidity, wind patterns, threat of rain and minor-league dimensions in a 10,046-capacity stadium that wasn’t always full.

• And the somewhat standard roster shuffling resulting in trades of many of the team’s biggest name/most popular players. Though Neander was able to find some dark humor in all of it “Turbulence and uncertainty is our happy place, apparently” he is confident the current squad can handle it.

delays and

rain

sweet, sweet AC will be

Rays manager Kevin Cash, left, and baseball operations president Erik Neander are just trying to keep players focused on the game and what they can control.

(JEFFEREE WOO | Times)

Resiliency a good skill

“I think we’ve long shown to have players that are resilient and staff around them that are equally resilient and supportive along the way,” Neander said. “It’s no different now. When it comes to our players, they’re good at doing what they need to do to be ready to compete and win games. Especially the group we have this year.”

Veteran starter Drew Rasmussen said it’s important for the players to look at it that way.

“If we keep the expectation on the goal to win every individual day, everything else is just kind of white noise,” he said. “Personally, our opinion will matter when it comes to the CBA stuff, but we aren’t the ones who are actually negotiating.

“When it comes to the new stadium, it’s the exact same situation. We are playing at the Trop. That is our home. That is where we will be. That’s where we’ll be going to work 50% of this year. So to worry about a stadium that realistically won’t even be done until 2029 at the earliest, that doesn’t affect the players in the clubhouse today. A lot of new faces turnover is nothing new to this organization.”

See RAYS, 14X

While players have had limited interaction with the new owners, opening-day starter Drew Rasmussen says, “Everyone seems very kind, very friendly, very optimistic about the future and the things this organization can do.” (JEFFEREE WOO | Times, 2025)

RAYS

continued from 13X

That included the new owners, who ultimately will determine how they handle all their challenges. There naturally were questions, with players and staff wondering, just as fans, what the change meant in terms of personnel and direction.

The new group brought aboard a few people on the business side and made some organizational tweaks, but for the most part has kept the staff intact and hands off the baseball operation. Babby raves often that Neander is the game’s best and also praises manager Kevin Cash.

“In Erik and Kevin we trust,” Babby said at the October introductory media conference. What they also didn’t do was boost the payroll or make a splashy free-agent signing, preferring to focus on the planned new stadium and surrounding live/work/learn/ play district as a means for a significant revenue increase and fundamental change

Babby also noted their ability to “be ambidextrous,” working on improving the Trop as it was repaired, with the team funding upgrades to the sound system, video board, suite furnishings and more.

Understandable anxiety

“With the new ownership group to date, I don’t think you could ask much more, like how accommodating they’ve been, how present they’ve been,” Cash said. “That’s a big thing, being present, because there’s no doubt Stu was here for a long time and was pretty beloved by a lot of people.

“There’s normal anxiety that comes with (the sale) OK, what changes, what’s going on. I feel like they’re showing a lot of comfort to the baseball department and the organization, and just being solid people.”

The new bosses haven’t addressed the full team, but Babby and Cosgrove have been around a lot during the spring and chatted with players and staff. A meeting of the full ownership group (with about 30 minority partners) was held recently in Port Char-

lotte, and four key players Junior Caminero, Shane McClanahan, Ryan Pepiot and Rasmussen did a meet and greet.

“They seem great in that limited interaction,” Rasmussen said. “Everyone seems very kind, very friendly, very optimistic about the future and the things this organization can do.”

Added Pepiot: “Their crew coming in with the excitement that they have, that’s exactly what you want with a new ownership.”

Ultimately, the Rays say the best way to deal with all that is going on is to not really focus on any of it or the what-ifs, for example, if funding for the stadium deal isn’t approved.

“I don’t think it’s consuming anybody, but it’s certainly in the back of my mind. I want to see a plan come together,” said Cash, whose contract is believed to run through 2030. “I know Ken is grinding through it, and it’s appreciated.”

In the clubhouse, Rasmussen said the best way to respond is to tighten the bond among the players they do have:

“If we can get our group as close as possible as quickly as possible which we’re doing a pretty good job of right now and then showing up with the expectation to win every day, I think everything else will kind of take care of itself.”

That’s what Neander likes to hear.

“For myself, for our staff, and especially for our players, it is about today,” he said.

“There’s not a whole lot of energy that’s spent thinking beyond making today count, making this camp count, making this season count. It’s just too important. There’s too much going on.

“To have the best possible future, we need to take care of our business today. We need to get better today, and we’ve got to keep doing that day after day after day, and then the rest takes care of itself. But that’s not all that difficult to do for our group.”

There’s a lot of, um, stuff riding on it.

Contact Marc Topkin at mtopkin@tampabay.com.

Follow @TBTimes_Rays

A lot of the talk around the Rays right now involves a proposed stadium and mixed-used entertainment complex in Tampa. Until a deal is done, players say that’s just noise they tune out and has no bearing on this season. (Tampa Bay Rays)

Were

A franchise fairy tale: How the Rays met Junior

It did not take long for a trade with Cleveland to turn into a pivotal moment in the Tampa Bay sports landscape.

MLB stadium and often scouts in Triple-A and Double-A parks. But Ibach wanted a better idea of potential trade targets in the lowest rungs of the minors.

He lobbied then-Rays president Matt Silverman to provide funding for additional scouts in Class A, rookie leagues and summer leagues.

“The suggestion resonated, especially because our success depends on acquiring and developing young talent,” Silverman said. “Expanding our scouting presence gave us broader coverage and more perspective.”

Now, you have a better idea of how the Rays became intrigued with an 18-year-old shortstop who put up strong numbers in the Dominican Summer League (.295, nine home runs, 33 RBIs in 43 games) but still wasn’t seen as a can’t-miss prospect. The Rays had scouted Caminero as an amateur, but he didn’t have the obvious physical gifts that are evident in controlled workouts. It took seeing him in live game action to get a better appreciation for what Caminero could do as a hitter. It was the bat speed combined with the plate coverage. The ball jumped off the bat when Caminero made contact, and he made a lot of contact. The Rays had three different scouts working the Dominican league, and Ibach was getting the same feedback from all three.

“It was a clean swing, and everything was barreled up. Being in the ballpark, hearing the crack of the bat, his bat sounded different than anyone else on those Cleveland teams,” Ibach said. “So we were able to corroborate that and say, yeah, the bat is real. Defensively, we also saw he had matured. He’d gained weight since he signed. There was still some question whether he would remain at shortstop or move to third base, but we had a clearer picture of the player he could be.”

PORT CHARLOTTE

He was still a teenager, and practically anonymous by baseball standards. Signed by Cleveland two summers earlier, he wasn’t yet a darling of scouts or analytics. Wasn’t on any major prospect lists. Wasn’t considered a major investment in Cleveland’s farm system.

He had been given an $87,500 signing bonus at age 16, which did not crack the top 200 expenditures in the international class of 2019.

This was the backdrop in 2021 when the Rays first became infatuated with Junior Caminero.

To understand the story of how one of

baseball’s hottest young hitters flew far enough under the radar to be acquired by Tampa Bay, you need to go back even a few years before Caminero’s pro debut. Back to when Kevin Ibach was first settling into a new job as director of pro scouting for the Rays.

With a background in amateur scouting, Ibach was puzzled why teams did not have more of a scouting presence in baseball’s lower minor leagues. There are scouts at every

It just so happened the Rays were also in need of a trade in the winter of 2021. Their farm system was among the best in the game, and they needed to add players to the 40-man roster or risk losing them in the Rule 5 draft.

Tobias Myers was then 22 years old and had put up strong swing-and-miss numbers (146 strikeouts in 117 innings between Double A and Triple A), but the Rays did not have room for him on the 40-man.

the Rays lucky to get Junior Caminero? “If Junior Caminero had played even one year in the United States, there’s no chance he’s wearing a Rays uniform,” says Kevin Ibach, who scouted a teenaged Caminero. (JEFFEREE WOO | Times)

Junior Caminero’s star really started to rise last season, and he turned heads during the All-Star Home Run Derby in Atlanta. (BRYNN ANDERSON | AP, 2025)

ROMANO

continued from 16X

When they talked to Cleveland, the Rays began by inquiring about a couple of other prospects who were in advanced leagues. Caminero was only brought up as a possible add-in to the deal. Cleveland was not interested in trading multiple players for Myers. The negotiations went back and forth until the Rays eventually went for the kill: OK, they said, we’ll do Myers for Caminero straight up.

“If Junior Caminero had played even one year in the United States, there’s no chance he’s wearing a Rays uniform,” Ibach said. “Other scouts, other organizations, even the Guardians would have known better what they had, because their (top) evaluators would have all seen him play.”

It became evident pretty quickly once Caminero arrived in the States. He catapulted through the Rays’ farm system and was in the majors by the time he was 20. The tale of Caminero’s first big-league batting practice session in Toronto at the end of the 2023 season is already legend. With manager Kevin Cash pitching to him, Caminero was hitting bombs off the upper deck at Rogers Centre, bringing fans to their feet and stopping other players in their tracks.

“I hadn’t seen a BP like that,” Cash said. “Cami was going fifth deck like it was nothing For whatever reason there was a lot of people in the building, and it was like a show within the show. I remember (Fox Sports’) Ken Rosenthal was at the game, because we were getting ready for the post-

season. He said, ‘What do you got on this Caminero kid?’ I’m like, ‘You watch him right now.’ (Rosenthal) was sitting in the tunnel after we were done with BP, and I look over and he was like, ‘Wow.’”

For those interested in this type of thing, there’s some cosmic payback to this story. In 2008, the Rays used the No 1 pick in the draft to select Tim Beckham instead of Florida State catcher Buster Posey. That decision haunted the franchise for years to come.

Beckham never worked out in Tampa Bay, and the Rays eventually traded him to Baltimore for … Tobias Myers. So, in essence, the Rays used that No. 1 pick to bring Caminero into the organization.

In some ways, it’s the story of how the Rays operate. Since they do not have the revenues of a lot of other teams, they focus on finding younger, low-salaried players. Realistically, 99% of those deals do not come close to approaching what Caminero has become but the Rays increase their odds by taking the risk.

“There’s a lot of guys at that age who make a lot of contact and hit the ball hard, and most of them never develop into a Junior Caminero,” Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said. “His greatest strengths to this day are that he can whistle the bat, he has a lot of adjustability and he makes a lot of contact. Plenty of guys show that at different points, but Junior has broken through and carried it forward in ways that are not common.”

Contact John Romano at jromano@tampabay.com Follow @Romano_TBTimes.

For the CEO on the go? Coffee and gummy bears

BY MARC TOPKIN Times Staff Writer

PORT CHARLOTTE As a key member of the ownership group that took control of the Rays after last season, Ken Babby is always on the go.

Whether it’s greeting fans, meeting with community officials or talking baseball with team personnel, the Rays CEO usually is working on some way to boost the business.

Babby, 46, has a sports pedigree (his dad, Lon, was an NBA player agent and team executive, among other jobs), and his own sports background, having owned successful minor-league teams in Akron, Ohio and Jacksonville.

With degrees from Wheaton College and Johns Hopkins University, Babby also knows the digital world. He started at The Washington Post as an IT intern and left 13 years later as chief revenue officer and general manager of digital operations. Now settled in Tampa with his wife, Liz, and teenage son, Josh, Babby is the front man for the bid to get a new stadium built, the reopening of Tropicana Field, operating the team on a daily basis and just about anything else Rays related.

He found a few minutes to sit still with Times baseball writer Marc Topkin during an exhibition game to participate in our usual spring training Q&A. (Some answers were edited for brevity and clarity):

What’stheearliesttimeyou’vesent aworkemail?

I guess the question would be at what hour does it go from being late to early

Doyoueverjustshutdownyour phone?

My phone is never off and is only silenced fully to go to sleep at night. I don’t believe in out-of-office messages.

Intheraretimeyouwinddown, howdoyoudoit?

Just time with my family Our home is very much a sanctuary for me. Being with Liz and Josh is a great way to escape the realities and hectic pace of this world and this job.

Sowhat’syoursecret:Coffee?Tea? Soda?

I drink a lot of coffee, at least four or five cups a day. I’m sure that will be fact-checked post-interview.

Howdoyoutakeit?

Black straight, pure, unleaded fuel. … Sometimes a double espresso but normally just black coffee.

What’syourgo-tosnackfood?

Haribo gummy bears are my favorite, favorite, favorite candy. They will be found in the ballpark, the offices, in the car, everywhere we go. All colors. They’re great for stress.

You’renottalkingabouttheother kindofgummiesareyou?

No. I’ve never used drugs. I’ve never smoked a cigarette. You can publish that.

Howmuchdoyousleepanight onaverage?

I don’t sleep much normally 4 ½ to 5 hours. We’ve got a lot going on.

What’stheusualwindowfor those4½-5hours?

It depends on the day and what we’re working on. I try and get to bed by 11, but I’m up really early in the morning I like the quiet hours in the morning to get a workout in, to catch up on reading and email, and plan my day. I’m an enormous planner. Like the old Boy Scout motto be prepared.

Doyoudrinkmuch?

Not really. I like red wine, but no. We’ve got a lot of work going on.

WhichTVrealityshowwouldyou wanttobeon?

It certainly wouldn’t be “American Idol,” because nobody would want to hear me sing. I think “Survivor” would be fun.

GiventherecentWinterOlympics, whichsportwouldyouwanttotry?

Definitely the luge. Absolutely I would do it. I love it.

See Q&A, 19X

Rays CEO Ken Babby is always on, as is his phone. “I don’t believe in out-of-office messages.” (LUIS SANTANA | Times)

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Ifyoucouldplayaprosport,which woulditbe?

Baseball is my life. It has always been my life. The game has been in my DNA since I was a baby. The birth announcement my parents sent out was a baseball card I’m truly living my dream and getting a chance to do it every day.

You’renotplayinginthemajors becausewhy?

My dream of playing Major League Baseball ended at 19 years old, when I tried to walk on to a Division III team at Wheaton College in Massachusetts and figured that getting a double major in economics and computer science would be a faster path to getting to the major leagues than continuing to try and play collegiate baseball.

Sowasitthecurveballorthefastball?

I stepped into the batter’s box the first day of tryouts, and a guy threw a ball that started behind me, and then as I looked down it crossed the outside corner of the plate. And I said, “That’s it. I better go look at my books.”

Whoseautographwouldyoupayfor?

(Rays All-Star) Junior Caminero.

What’stheringtoneonyourphone?

It buzzes; it’s always on silent.

Yourscreensaver?

A picture of Liz, my wife, and Josh, my son.

Favoritetimekilleronyourphone? Email.

Who’sthebiggest-namepersoninyour phone?

That’s a loaded question, so let me think about that. Lon Babby, my father (a former NBA player agent and team executive, and attorney for the Orioles and Redskins)

The last time Ken Babby really took some down time?

Might have been when “Seinfeld” was still airing new episodes.

Oldestthinginyourwallet?

My driver’s license, that I think is probably close to expiring No mementos.

Doyoustillcarrycash?

I do not carry cash. The Babby home is a cashless venue except for (Rays manager) Kevin Cash, who we love.

Anotherloadedquestion,what’syour favoritewebsite?

Raysbaseball.com, of course.

Celebrationmealout?

I love a great streak.

HowdidyoumeetLiz?

We were introduced by our best friends (when living in Washington D.C.).