Team Strengths: While the”opener” earned headlines, the Rays’ outfield was their strongest position group. Tampa Bay had the sixth-best outfield at MLB, as measured by Baseball-Reference’s runs , together with Tommy Pham along with a healthy Kevin Kiermaier making much of the impact. While Mallex Smith is gone, Austin Meadows must step in and radically improve right area, the one weak link in the Rays’ outfield one year ago.
Team Weaknesses: The Rays finished 27th in the majors in home runs, let leading home run hitter C.J. Cron go and traded second-leading returning home run hitter Jake Bauers. Developing energy has long been a problem for the Rays’ business. Their past homegrown player to hit over 20 home runs in a year was Evan Longoria, who had been drafted in 2006.
They Did About It: The Rays will rely on complete seasons from Pham, Meadows and Willy Adames to provide electricity, whilst offseason acquisition Mike Zunino is coming off back-to-back 20-home run seasons and Avisail Garcia struck 19 a year ago. Rising prospect Nate Lowe has a clear path to either the first base or DH jobs, now occupied by Yandy Diaz and Ji-Man Choi, also possesses the thump to provide the Rays their very first homegrown 20-home run hitter since Longoria.
Last Outlook: The Rays again have the pitching depth to replicate their success with the”opener.” Even so, Pham, Meadows and the rest need to live up to their offensive potential for 90 wins to occur again.
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