The Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday added infielder Austin Shenton and pitcher Yoniel Curet to the big league-roster, selecting both player to be added to the team’s 40-man roster in order to prevent them from being exposed to the Rule 5 Draft that will take place at the Winter Meetings.
Shenton, taken in the fifth round of the 2019 Draft by the Mariners out of FIU, hit .304/.423/.584 with 29 home runs and 99 RBI in 134 games between Double-A Montgomery (73) and Triple-A Durham (61) in 2023. Shenton was acquired by Tampa Bay at the trade deadline in 2021 in the deal that sent reliever Diego Castillo to Seattle, and was ranked the #26 prospect in the organization by MLB.com
Curet, signed by the Rays in 2019 from San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, spent 2023 between Low-A Charleston and High-A Bowling Green, going 8-1 with a 2.94 earned run average, in 26 appearances, including 22 starts. The 21-year-old struck out 144 batters in 104 1/3 innings of work.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Shenton and Curet, right-handers Cooper Criswell and Calvin Faucher were designated for assignment.