THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2015 vs. RH Nathan Karns vs. LH Wei-Yin Chen First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. | Location: Charlotte Sports Park, Charlotte County, Fla. | TV: None | Radio: MLB.com Game No: 1 (0-0-0) | vs. AL: 0-0-0 | vs. NL: 0-0-0 | Home: 0-0-0 | Road: 0-0-0 Day 11 of | 32 Days Until —Monday, April 6 vs. BAL (3:10 p.m.)

MILITARY APPRECIATION DAY—Today the Rays pay special tribute to CUT FOR A CURE—Prior to tomorrow’s TODAY’S STARTING LINEUP the men and women of Charlotte County who have served their country… Rays-Twins game, Rays players, coaches 1 Tim Beckham (R) 2B the first 5,000 fans in attendance receive a Rays military-themed T-shirt and and front office staff will shave their heads 28 John Jaso (L) DH the USSOCOM Parachute Team will deliver an American flag and first pitch for a fourth straight year as part of the 13 Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS ball as part of a special pregame presentation…the Rays have donated 500 Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s “Cut for a 3 Evan Longoria (R) 3B tickets through Charlotte County Veterans Services for local veterans and Cure” event, to pay tribute to children fight- 21 James Loney (L) 1B their families to attend the game, many of whom will receive special recog- ing cancer…PCF’s 2015 campaign will be 7 David DeJesus (L) LF 5 Brandon Guyer (R) RF nition…the Rays will also be assisting veterans in their efforts to construct kicked off by this event, beginning around 39 Kevin Kiermaier (L) CF the Vietnam Wall of Southwest Florida in Charlotte County, a replica of the 11 a.m. …to show support for a player or 19 Curt Casali (R) C Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. …any fan donating to the participant, the public is encouraged to text 51 Nathan Karns RHP project today will receive an Alex Cobb military-themed bobblehead. “PCF” to 20222 to make a $10 donation or ÊÊ Delivering the ceremonial first pitch today is Jason Scanlon, who visit pcfcutforacure.org…fans will be able RAYS IN served a tour of duty in Iraq as a Lance Corporal in the U.S. Ma- to shave their heads with the Rays that day SPRING TRAINING rine Corps and is a graduate of Port Charlotte High School…he also and receive a “Rays Cut for a Cure” T-shirt 2015 — — worked the past six springs as the Rays spring media dining attendant. for a $100 donation. 2014 16-7-4 78,264 2013 15-17-2 90,935 2012 10-16-6 87,916 —Prior to today’s game, the Rays will hold a mo- —Tomorrow will be MOMENT OF SILENCE 500 DAYS OF SPRING 2011 15-14-2 95,859 ment of silence for Ray D’Annolfo, who passed away unexpectedly in the 500th spring game in Rays history. 2010 20-8-2 97,971 August 2014…since the first season of spring training in 2009, Ray was 2009 15-16-1 103,255 responsible for the on-field safety of Rays players, staff and invited guests IRON MAN RETURNS—Hall of Famer Cal 2008 18-8-2 54,960 from his security post at the first base dugout at Charlotte Sports Park. Ripken Jr. will deliver the ceremonial first 2007 10-19-2 79,044 pitch for Sunday’s game vs. Philadelphia… 2006 13-16-1 70,756 2005 13-16 61,261 PLAY BALL!—Today the defending Grape- BEST RECORDS, MLB, then, during the game, he will sign his lat- 2004 11-8 43,916 fruit League champion Rays will open SPRING TRAINING, 2008-14 est book, Out at Home, the fifth in his All- 2003 8-19-3 51,324 their 18th spring in the Grapefruit League LA Angels 124-89 .582 Stars kids series. 2002 10-16-1 49,043 and seventh calling Charlotte Sports Park Kansas City 121-90 .573 2001 12-15-1 57,081 Detroit 122-91 .573 home…the 2014 Rays recorded the best COBB GETS OPENING DAY NOD—Yes- 2000 14-17 67,089 Tampa Bay 109-86 .559 spring record in the majors at 16-7-4 (.696), terday, Manager Kevin Cash announced 1999 14-14-1 59,230 St. Louis 108-89 .548 their third Grapefruit League title in a span that RH Alex Cobb will start Opening Day 1998 12-18 66,781 of seven seasons (also 2008, 2010)…since (April 6 vs. BAL), and will be followed in Total 226-244-28 1,215,045 becoming the Rays in 2008, the team has recorded at least 15 wins in six the rotation by RH , LH Drew out of seven spring trainings…they never achieved this in 10 springs as the Smyly and RH …the past seven Rays openers have been Devil Rays…the Rays have compiled a 109-86 (.559) spring record during started by either (2008-10, 2012) or (2011, this span, 4th best in the majors (see chart). 2013-14); Cobb is the first besides that pair since in 2007. ÊÊ Today is the first of 193 games the Rays are scheduled to play in ÊÊ In the Devil Rays era (1998–2007), the only Opening Day starters 2015, between Grapefruit League (31) and regular season (162) ac- drafted and developed by the Rays were Joe Kennedy (2003) and tion…the Rays will play 14 spring games at Charlotte Sports Park, (2005)…in the Rays era, every Opening Day 16 on the road and one at Tropicana Field (April 4 vs. DET)…the starter has been a Rays draft pick. schedule includes two split-squad days, March 10 (vs. PIT, at BOS) ÊÊ Cobb enters the season as the Rays No. 1 starter, after opening the and March 31 (vs. BOS, at BAL). 2014 season in the No. 2 slot and the 2013 season in the No. 5 slot. ÊÊ Today is the first gameKevin Cash has ever managed—at any level. BIRTH ORDER—This will mark the 13th straight season the Rays Opening THE VITALS—Tickets are still available for today (starting at $10), Friday Day starter has been age 30 or younger…the only Opening Day starter over vs. MIN (from $10) and Sunday vs. PHI (from $12)…parking is $10 per ve- age 30 in Rays history was 31-year-old in 2002…the Rays hicle, with lots opening at 10 a.m. and gates opening at 11 a.m. have 11 starting on their 40-man roster, and RH Alex Cobb is the el- ÊÊ Spring training single game tickets are available via phone at 1-800- dest at 27 years, 4 months…he’s followed in age by RH Nathan Karns (27y, 745-3000 and online at raysbaseball.com, or at the Charlotte Sports 3m), RH Chris Archer (26), RH Alex Colome (26), LH Drew Smyly (25), Park box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, the Rays Tampa Store (400 LH Matt Moore (25), RH (25), LH Grayson Garvin (25), N. Tampa St.) and the Tropicana Field box office. RH Jake Odorizzi (24), RH Burch Smith (24) and LH Enny Romero (24). ÊÊ Spring training season ticket packages start at only $270 for the Rays 14-game home schedule at Charlotte Sports Park. SEVEN YEARS AS THE RAYS (2008-14)—Since changing their name to the Rays in 2008, the Rays are 627-508 (.552), fourth-best record in the ROLL CALL—The Rays have invited 63 players to major league camp, majors after the Yankees (.571), Angels (.554) and Cardinals (.554)…the and all except RH Alex Colome (visa issues) have reported…this group Rays have won 90-plus games five times, most in the majors in this span… includes 31 P, 7 C (including C/DH John Jaso), 15 INF and 10 OF…this they have advanced to the postseason four times; only the Cardinals (five) number may grow to 64 today, as RH Jim Miller is in camp this morning tak- have been more often. ing a physical…Miller, 32, has spent parts of five seasons in the majors with ÊÊ The Rays pitching staff has allowed only 4,536 runs, fewest by an AL the Orioles (2008), Rockies (2011), A’s (2012) and Yankees (2013-14)…he team over a span of seven full seasons since 1974-80 (Orioles 4,271; has compiled a 3.48 ERA (67.1-IP, 26-ER) in 50 relief appearances. Yankees 4,353)…they have thrown 96 shutouts, most by an AL team ÊÊ RH Ronald Belisario is out indefinitely due to a fractured left (non- over a seven-year span since the 1975-81 Yankees (also 96)…they throwing) shoulder, sustained in an off-the-field accident in Venezu- achieved all this while starting a under the age of 30 in 93.5 ela…he will be kept out of on-field drills for the next two weeks. pct. of their games (1,062 of 1,135). ÊÊ RH Grant Balfour returned to Australia to be with his father, David Balfour, who is battling pancreatic cancer. PITCH CLOCKS IN PLAY—Earlier this week, two timers were added to Char- ÊÊ Major league camp includes players coming from six different coun- lotte Sports Park: one in center field and a smaller one on the facade near the tries—the U.S., , Venezuela, Australia, Colombia press box…Major League ’s new pace of game program is effective and South Korea—as well as Puerto Rico and Hawaii. in spring training, the regular season and postseason…see separate press release for details on pace of game initiatives and replay modifications. HOT STOVE TONIGHT—Pitching coach Jim Hickey and OF Steven Sou- za Jr. will be guests on this week’s edition of the Hot Stove radio show, RAYS vs. ORIOLES—Today is the first of 5 Grapefruit League games sched- airing on WDAE 620 AM from 7 to 8 p.m. tonight live from Hooters (1360 uled between the AL East rivals…the O’s return here on March 30, and the Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte, FL 33948). Rays make three trips to Ed Smith Stadium…in spring 2014, the Rays went 2-1-2 vs. Baltimore, including a 0-1-2 mark at Charlotte Sports Park. RAYS HIT THE LINKS—Yesterday was the annual Rays Charity Golf Tour- ÊÊ In the 2014 regular season, the Rays went 7-12 against the Orioles— nament at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club in Bradenton…the winning team was their worst mark since 2006 (6-13)…they lost their first 5 games, then Curt Casali and Advantica at 52—one stroke ahead of Jake Odorizzi and went 7-7 after that…they were 3-6 at home, 4-6 at Camden Yards. the ownership group of Randy Frankel, Saul Sellinger, Art Sellinger and ÊÊ The Orioles come to Tropicana Field on Opening Day (April 6)…it will Tim Mullen…Mike Finster of Advantica won the longest drive, and John be the seventh time the clubs have met on Opening Day (2-4)—the Bozer of Vology won “marshmallow closest to the pin” with a hole-in-one. Rays most frequent opponent—and the sixth time in the past 10 years. WELCOME TO PARADISE—In 2014, readers of USA Today voted Charlotte Sports Park their favorite spring training destination in all of baseball… those CHARLOTTE SPORTS PARK MEDIA INFORMATION visitors accounted for an economic impact value of nearly $21 million for Pregame Media Schedule (all 1:05 games) Charlotte County in 2014, according to data supplied by the Charlotte Harbor Clubhouse opens to media 8:00 a.m. Visitor and Convention Bureau…the Rays-Red Sox game last March 19 drew Kevin Cash available (manager’s office) 9:15 a.m. 7,852 fans, the largest crowd in the 22-year history of spring training baseball Rays stretch 9:30 a.m. in Charlotte County. Rays batting practice 10:15 a.m. Visitors batting practice 11:15 a.m. VIDEO ON A SILVER PLATTER—The Rays provide a daily postgame video feed of all 16 non-televised spring training games…this will include about two 2015 Rays Media Guides are available digitally on RaysPressbox.com minutes of highlights plus two short interviews…video should be uploaded by and MLBPressbox.com…see a member of the Communications staff to 5:15 p.m. …to receive email updates or for more information, contact Chris request a hard copy. Tilley ([email protected] or 727-434-0497). Parking is available to media on the grass directly behind the paved lots of the main ballpark entrance...media parking is free to those with spring UPCOMING PROBABLES—Today vs. BAL training credentials...please see the Communications staff for a pass if ÊÊ TB—RH Nathan Karns (start), RH Kevin Jepsen, RH Brad Boxberger, you plan to cover a large number of games. RH Steven Geltz, LH Enny Romero, LH C.J. Riefenhauser, LH Robert Zarate, RH Jhan Mariñez Rays Clubhouse will open at 8 a.m. on most days and close at 9 a.m. ÊÊ BAL—LH Wei-Yin Chen (start), RH Tyler Wilson, RH Jason Garcia …it will re-open after workouts and batting practice on game days and Fri., March 6 vs. MIN, 1:05 p.m. when necessary in-game. ÊÊ TB—RH Jake Odorizzi (start), RH Matt Andriese, RH Burch Smith, RH Ernesto Frieri, RH Brandon Gomes, LH Jordan Norberto, RH Kirby Media Workroom (in addition to the press box) is located at Charlotte Yates, LH Mike Montgomery Sports Park on the first floor of the building located beyond the right field ÊÊ MIN—TBA fence that houses the Rays clubhouse and executive offices. Sat., March 7 at PIT, 1:05 p.m. Media Dining is located behind the press box...the Rays serve a meal Ê Ê TB—RH Alex Cobb (start), LH , LH Grayson Garvin, prior to all home games at Charlotte Sports Park at a cost of $8. RH Dylan Floro, RH , RH Bryce Stowell ÊÊ PIT—RH A.J. Burnett (start), LH , LH Antonio Bastardo, Daily Credentials must be requested at credentials.mlb.com at least 24 RH , RH Brad Lincoln, RH Josh Wall hours in advance…credentials can be picked up at the reception desk located in the entrance of the Rays Clubhouse Building until 3 hours TODAY’S RAYS STARTER—RH Nathan Karns before first pitch, after which point they must be picked up at Guest Ser- ÊÊ 2014 with Rays: 1-1, 4.50 ERA (12-IP, 6-ER) in 2 starts vices near the box office. ÊÊ 2014 with Durham (AAA): 9-9, 5.08 ERA (145.1-IP, 82-ER) in 27 starts RAYSPRESSBOX.COM & TWITTER RaysPressbox.com is a private, media-only website that serves as a ÊÊ 27-year-old is the second oldest of 11 starting pitchers on the Rays 40- central location for all Rays media information. Content includes 2015 man roster, just seven weeks younger than Alex Cobb…didn’t make Media Guide PDF files, press releases, game notes, statistics and other his pro debut until June 20, 2011, more than two years after he was gameday documents as well as daily audio and video clips. drafted, due to shoulder surgery…starts the Rays spring opener as he competes for the fifth starter spot. Username: media | Password: r@ys2015 ÊÊ Enters 2015 rated by Baseball America as the No. 7 prospect in the Media are also encouraged to follow the private @RaysPressbox Rays system and No. 2 pitching prospect behind Alex Colome…the Twitter account to be notified of all media alerts. publication also recognized him as Best in the organization. ÊÊ Made 2 starts for the Rays last September…in his Rays debut, Sep 12 RAYS COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT INFO at TOR, earned his first career victory, 1-0 over J.A. Happ…totaled 7 Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Rd., Port Charlotte, FL 33948 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 8 SO…became the first in club history to go 7-plus Main Number, Rays Office (941) 235-5025 IP and allow 2 H or fewer in his Rays debut…tied for Communications Department (941) 235-5044 the longest scoreless outing in a Rays debut…114 pitches were the Press Box (941) 235-5082 most ever in a Rays debut. Rick Vaughn, Vice President [email protected] Ê Ê In 2014 made a career-high 30 starts between Durham (regular and Cell – (727) 439-0671 postseason) and the Rays…in those 30 starts, allowed 1 ER or fewer Dave Haller, Sr. Director [email protected] 13 times, and yielded 5 ER or more 10 times. Cell – (727) 773-6904 Ê Ê Led all Rays minor leaguers with 153 SO and tied Rochester’s (Twins) Carli Todd, Sr. Coordinator [email protected] for most among Triple-A pitchers. Alex Meyer (handles credential requests) Cell – (732) 606-3915 Ê Ê Named the Rays Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May and July Dukes Knutson, Press Box Attendant 2014…his ERA by month for Durham: April 8.20…May 1.39…June 10.55…July 1.62…August 6.19. 2015 SPRING TRAINING SCHEDULE DAY DATE OPPONENT SITE R/TV TIME/SCORE W-L WP LP ATT Thu March 5 Baltimore Charlotte County M 1:05 p.m. Fri March 6 Minnesota Charlotte County M 1:05 p.m. Sat March 7 @Pittsburgh Bradenton R 1:05 p.m. Sun March 8 Philadelphia Charlotte County R 1:05 p.m. Mon March 9 @ Tampa 1:05 p.m. Tue March 10 Pittsburgh Charlotte County M 1:05 p.m. @ Fort Myers 1:05 p.m. Wed March 11 @Minnesota Lee County 1:05 p.m. Thu March 12 Toronto Charlotte County M 1:05 p.m. Fri March 13 @Philadelphia Clearwater 1:05 p.m. Sat March 14 @Baltimore Sarasota R 1:05 p.m. Sun March 15 New York Mets Charlotte County R 1:05 p.m. Mon March 16 OPEN DATE Tue March 17 @Philadelphia Clearwater 1:05 p.m. Wed March 18 @Toronto Dunedin 1:07 p.m. Thu March 19 Minnesota Charlotte County M/T 1:05 p.m. Fri March 20 Toronto Charlotte County M 1:05 p.m. Sat March 21 Minnesota Charlotte County R 1:05 p.m. Sun March 22 @Toronto Dunedin R 12:37 p.m. Mon March 23 Pittsburgh Charlotte County M 1:05 p.m. Tue March 24 OPEN DATE Wed March 25 @Minnesota Lee County 1:05 p.m. Thu March 26 New York Yankees Charlotte County M/T 1:05 p.m. Fri March 27 @Baltimore Sarasota 1:05 p.m. Sat March 28 Boston Charlotte County R/T 1:05 p.m. Sun March 29 @Boston Fort Myers R 1:05 p.m. Mon March 30 Baltimore Charlotte Sports Park M 1:05 p.m. Tue March 31 Boston Charlotte Sports Park M 1:05 p.m. @Baltimore Sarasota 1:05 p.m. Wed April 1 @New York Yankees Tampa 1:05 p.m. Thu April 2 @Philadelphia Clearwater 1:05 p.m. Fri April 3 @Detroit Lakeland 1:05 p.m. Sat April 4 Detroit Tropicana Field R/T 12:35 p.m. Home Games in Bold (R) Rays Radio Network (T) Sun Sports (M) MLB.com Radio