The Tampa Bay Rays will look to make it two wins in a row to start the 2021 Grapefruit League Monday, when Rocco Baldelli and the Minnesota Twins come to Charlotte Sports Park. Tyler Glasnow will get the start for Tampa Bay and likely throw just a single inning. The seven-inning contest is scheduled to start at 1:05.
Today’s starting lineups. #Rays #Twins #SpringTraining pic.twitter.com/uvXZiA4yrO
— Steve Carney (@stevecarney) March 1, 2021
Kiermaier Close To Making Spring Debut
Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier has been held back by the coaching and training staff as he has been dealing with tightness in both of his hips. But the three-time Gold Glove winner took live batting practice Monday for the first time this spring. Hitting coach Chad Mottola pointed out this morning that time is not a factor in getting prepared for the April 1 opener in Miami, but pushing too hard to get into Grapefruit League games could be.
#Rays Kiermaier took batting practice today, and is slated to face live pitchers tomorrow, as team takes it slow with him given hip tightness from start of camp. “We have to protect him against himself sometimes,” hitting coach Chad Mottola said, noting there is plenty of time.
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 1, 2021
Choi’s Knee Feeling Better
First baseman Ji-Man Choi has been dealing with knee soreness over the last week, which kept him from taking part in drills early in camp, but manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Choi is on track to DH Wednesday against Pittsburgh, and could play first base Thursday in Fort Myers, when Tampa Bay takes on the Twins at Hammond Stadium.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
