Press Box Documents › bit.ly/3f0l9jz TAMPA BAY RAYS (4-7-0) vs. MINNESOTA TWINS (5-6-0) LH Rich Hill (0-0, 27.00) vs. RH Randy Dobnak (0-0, 0.00) Saturday, March 13, 2021 First Pitch: 1:05 p.m. Location: Charlotte Sports Park TV: FOX Sports Sun Radio: WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM Spring Game No.: 12 vs. AL Opponents: 2-6-0 vs. NL Opponents: 2-1-0 Home Games: 3-2-0 Road Games: 1-5-0 Day 24 of Spring Training 19 Days Until Opening Day—Thursday, April 1 at Miami Marlins (4:10 p.m.) PRONUNCIATION GUIDE To hear Rays coaches and players pronouncing their names in their own voices, visit raysbaseball.com/pronunciation. UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHERS & BROADCAST SCHEDULE Upcoming Games Time (ET) Probable Pitchers (Rays vs. Opp.) TV & Radio Sat., 3/13 vs. MIN 1:05 p.m. TB—LH Rich Hill, LH Cody Reed, RH Chaz Roe, LH Jeffrey Springs, LH Ryan Sherriff, RH Shane Baz; FOX Sports Sun, WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM MIN—RH Randy Dobnak, RH Shaun Anderson, RH Jorge Alcala, RH Derek Law, LH Brandon Waddell, RH Tom Hackimer Sun., 3/14 at ATL 1:05 p.m. TB—RH Drew Strotman, RH Diego Castillo, RH Pete Fairbanks, RH Nick Anderson, RH Yacksel Rios; ATL—TBD WDAE 95.3 FM/620 AM Mon., 3/15 vs. BOS 1:05 p.m. TB—RH Joe Ryan, LH Shane McClanahan, LH Josh Fleming; BOS—RH Nick Pivetta FOX Sports Sun, MLB.com Tues., 3/16 vs. BAL 1:05 p.m. TB—LH Ryan Yarbrough, RH Collin McHugh; BAL—TBD FOX Sports Sun, MLB.com Wed., 3/17 at PIT 1:05 p.m. TB—RH Tyler Glasnow, RH Chris Ellis, RH Nick Anderson, RH Chris Mazza; PIT—TBD MLB Network ON THE WEB—The 2021 Rays Media Guide is now available at mlbpress- Ê Non-roster INF Wander Franco is the consensus No. 1 overall pros- box.com (login required), rayspressbox.com (using username rays\media pect in the minors…he became the fourth player to rank as Baseball and password R@ys1998#) and bit.ly/3t73SkH (no login necessary). America's top prospect in consecutive years, joining Bryce Harper (2011-12), Joe Mauer (2004-05) and Andruw Jones (1996-97). TWO DISTINCT ERAS—Since becoming the Rays in 2008, the Rays own Ê Last month, MLB announced a modernized minor league sys- the 5th-best record in baseball at 1,081-924 (.539) and have made six trips tem, with each major league club providing players and staffs to to the postseason, incl. three AL East division titles (2020, 2010, 2008) and their four affiliates—one at each of the Triple-A, Double-A, High- two World Series appearances (2020, 2008)…during this span, only three A and Low-A levels…the Rays continued affiliation with Durham, clubs (Dodgers, Yankees, Cardinals) have reached the postseason more Montgomery and Bowling Green…the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs often, and only two (Dodgers, Giants) have competed in more World Se- served as Tampa Bay's original Low-A affiliate from 1997–2004. ries…the Rays have seven 90-win seasons since 2008, a number matched by only three other teams in baseball: Dodgers (8), Red Sox (7) and Yan- MINOR STUDIES—MLB has announced experimental rules to be tested kees (7)…this success comes after the Devil Rays amassed the majors’ during the 2021 minor league season, varying by level of play: worst record at 645-972 (.399) over the club’s first decade of existence. Ê Triple-A will use larger bases in an attempt to reduce injuries; Ê The Rays enter the 2021 season on the heels of the second AL pen- Ê Double-A teams must have their four infielders remain on the dirt, nant in team history…in 2020, the Rays went 40-20 (.667), the best and the 2nd Half may include two on each side of second base; winning pct. in club history…it was the fourth straight season they Ê High-A pitchers must step off the rubber before throwing to a base; improved their winning pct., all under Manager Kevin Cash. Ê Low-A pitchers can attempt two pickoffs per plate appearance, and will be charged a balk if a third is attempted and unsuccessful SLICE OF GRAPEFRUIT—Per MLB's 2021 guidelines, games from Feb 28– March 13 (excluding ESPN games) will be scheduled for 7 innings, though SPRING THINGS—The Rays have lost three consecutive games and have they can be shortened to 5 innings or lengthened to 9 innings upon mutu- been outscored, 16-4, over that stretch…they are 1-5 in their last 6 games al agreement of both managers…games from March 14-30 will be sched- following a 3-2 start…the Rays are one of four Grapefruit League teams uled for 9 innings, though managers can decide to shorten to 7 innings. without a tie game…yesterday the Rays lost, 8-2, to the Red Sox in Fort Ê Earlier last month, Major League Baseball released a revised, re- Myers, with RH Chris Archer retiring all 4 BF in his spring debut…Rays gionalized Grapefruit League schedule to mitigate travel…27 of the relievers allowed homers in the 3rd, 5th and 6th innings, with RH Trevor Rays 28 spring games are against the Braves (6), Orioles (3), Pirates Richards (0-1) taking the loss…1B Dalton Kelly homered for the Rays. (2), Red Sox (8) and Twins (8)…the only exception is the final game— March 30 in Lakeland (Tigers)—after the Rays move their major KNUTSON CLASSIC—This is the fifth of eight meetings this spring…the league operations to Tropicana Field to prepare for Opening Day. Rays trail the spring series, 3-1, most recently a 6-2 loss on March 10… Ê The Rays have a club-record 77 players on their spring roster: 42 the spring series determines the winner of the “Knutson Classic,” named pitchers, 8 catchers, 15 infielders and 12 outfielders…prior to 2021, for Rays press box attendant and Minnesota native Dukes Knutson…the the largest camp roster was 76 players (1999)…the 77 players on the Twins went 2-1 last spring to win it for a fifth straight year, after the Rays spring roster includes four rehabbing pitchers on the 60-day IL. won it from 2013-15…the two clubs did not play in the 2020 regular sea- Ê There are 11 new faces on the 40-man roster—four free agents, four son but meet six times this year: Aug 13-15 at MIN and Sep 3-5 at home. acquired via trade and three from the minor league system. Ê Twins Manager Rocco Baldelli spent four seasons on Kevin Cash’s Ê In 2020, three players who entered spring training as non-roster coaching staff before being hired by the Twins on Oct 25, 2018. invites made the Opening Day roster…incl. postseason, nine non- Ê Rocco was the Rays major league field coordinator in 2018 and the roster invites spent time on the Rays active roster last season. first base coach from 2015-17…he and Cash are two of six former Rays players who have gone on to manage major league teams. PROMO SCHEDULE—The Rays have announced the promotional sched- Ê Today's game is expected to be 8 innings in length. ule for the 2021 season, including an AL Championship Replica Trophy (April 13 vs. TEX) and five player bobbleheads: Willy Adames Audio Bob- TODAY’S STARTER vs. MIN—LH Rich Hill (0-0, 27.00 ERA) blehead (June 9 vs. WAS), Brandon Lowe Bobblehead (June 26 vs. LAA), Ê 2020 Regular Season: 2-2, 3.03 ERA (38.2-IP, 13-ER) in 8 starts Austin Meadows Bobblehead (July 6 vs. CLE), Randy Arozarena Bobble- Ê Signed a one-year deal with the Rays on Feb 17, 2021. head (July 31 vs. BOS) and Tyler Glasnow Bobblehead (Aug 21 vs. CWS). Ê Opened last season in the Twins rotation as a result of the delayed season…entered 2020 spring training recovering from left elbow THE SKIPPER—Kevin Cash enters his seventh season as Rays manager… surgery that repaired a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament. he is baseball’s 3rd-longest-tenured manager with his current team be- Ê Allowed 2 runs (or fewer) in seven of 8 starts, including his last hind OAK Bob Melvin (10th full season) and CLE Terry Francona (9th six…pitched to a 2.38 ERA (22.2-IP, 6-ER) in his final 4 starts. season)…Cash's career 454-416 (.522) record is the best winning pct. of any Ê Missed time from July 31–Aug 18 (left shoulder inflammation). manager in club history…last season he was named AL Manager of the Ê Since signing with the Red Sox as a 35-year-old following a stint in Year by the BBWAA, receiving 22 of 30 first-place votes…was the second independent ball in 2015, is 43-22 with a 2.92 ERA (505-IP, 164-ER) manager in Rays history to win it, joining Joe Maddon (2008 and 2011). in 95 apps (94 starts) in the majors…since 2016, ranks among ML Ê At 42 years old in 2020, Cash was the youngest manager to reach leaders (min. 400 IP) in ERA (3.01, 8th) and opp avg. (.208, 4th). the World Series since Ozzie Guillén (41) in 2005 (White Sox). Ê His full bio is on Page 109 of the Rays 2021 Media Guide.