Caballero's (left foot) X-rays negative after early exit
Rays make procedural roster cuts; offense heats up vs. Tigers
Adam Berry
@adamdberryPORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Versatile infielder/outfielder José Caballero left Thursday¡¯s 7-7 tie against the Tigers at Charlotte Sports Park in the second inning after fouling a ball off his left foot, but he avoided a serious injury.
Caballero underwent X-rays after leaving the game and said they came back negative. The top of his left foot was bruised as he walked around the clubhouse afterward, but he only expects to miss a few days.
¡°Just a little pain after the hit, but everything's all right,¡± Caballero said. ¡°It's just day to day, but I feel good, just a bruise on my foot. But after that, it's all good.¡±
Caballero had been slated to start Friday afternoon¡¯s game against the Pirates at LECOM Park, but he will likely miss that game and see how he feels when he reports to the ballpark in the morning to determine his schedule moving forward.
¡°Cabby, he's a tough guy. He was in some pain, so I'm thrilled that the X-rays came back negative,¡± manager Kevin Cash said. ¡°He'll be sore for a day or two. We'll check how he comes in tomorrow. But avoided a scare, it seems like.¡±
Caballero hobbled around in pain for a bit after fouling the ball off his foot, then exited the game when Cash and an athletic trainer came out to check on him. Tanner Murray replaced him in the lineup and at third base.
This is an interesting Spring Training for Caballero, who led the American League in stolen bases with 44 last season. He began last year as the Rays¡¯ primary shortstop while Taylor Walls was recovering from offseason right hip surgery, then moved around the infield the rest of the season.
This spring, Caballero has been getting some work in the outfield in addition to his usual infield reps. All told, it¡¯s possible he could bounce around the diamond to play six positions this year: second and third base, shortstop and all three outfield spots.
¡°Probably more. We¡¯ll see,¡± he said, smiling. ¡°I'm down to do whatever helps the team, and just here to play ball and help the team win.¡±
Around the horn
? The Rays made a pair of procedural roster cuts after Thursday¡¯s game, reassigning infielder Gregory Barrios and right-hander Alex Cook to Minor League camp.
Barrios, a well-regarded infield prospect (ranked No. 20 on the Rays' MLB Pipeline Top 30), had been in camp but wasn¡¯t playing in games due to a right elbow injury that has prevented him from throwing. Cook was on the Spring Training roster but wasn¡¯t actually in camp while rehabbing from an injury of his own.
There are now 72 players in Tampa Bay¡¯s big league camp.
? It was a productive day all-around offensively for the Rays. Brandon Lowe (sacrifice fly) and Danny Jansen (opposite-field single) drove in runners from third base. Yandy D¨ªaz and Eloy Jim¨¦nez each picked up a hit. Jake Mangum rapped two hits and Kameron Misner had one.
Then they started swinging for the fences in the ninth, when non-roster invitees Tres Barrera, Murray and Tristan Peters erased a three-run deficit with a trio of solo shots.
¡°It was exciting. Guys got a hold of some baseballs right there,¡± Cash said. ¡°We had pretty good swings throughout the entire game. The runs kind of came late there, but encouraged by a lot of the at-bats.¡±
? Right-hander Mike Vasil kept the Tigers¡¯ split-squad lineup off the board for 1 2/3 innings in his first start of the spring. Vasil gave up a single to each of the first two hitters he faced, then responded by striking out Spencer Torkelson (on a nasty sweeper) and Andy Ib¨¢?ez.
As a Rule 5 Draft pick, Vasil has to break camp on the Rays¡¯ Opening Day roster or injured list. Otherwise, he will be run through waivers before being offered back to the Mets, his original club. He said he¡¯s doing his best to not worry about what could happen in a month.
¡°Obviously, you're competing,¡± Vasil said. ¡°But for me, my best mindset is, yeah, if I'm pitching today, I'm pitching. It¡¯s not all these other things piled on top.¡±
Single-game tickets on sale
The Rays have put single-game tickets on sale for this season at George M. Steinbrenner Field. After a pair of pre-sale specials the past two days, tickets became available for the general public on Thursday morning.
The Rays announced earlier this week that there will be a limited number of standing-room-only tickets available for $20 for all home games at Steinbrenner Field. Those $20 ¡°Rays Rush Tickets¡± will be released prior to each home series throughout the season; fans can be notified when they are released by joining the Rays text list (text RAYS to 42086).