CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Two at-bats, two solid hits. That¡¯s how Rays outfielder Josh Lowe finished up Spring Training in Monday's 8-6 loss to the Phillies at BayCare Ballpark. Lowe went 2-for-2 with a two-run double to raise his Spring Training batting average to .429, fueling optimism for a productive 2025 season.
Over his final seven spring games, Lowe hit .650 (13-for-20).
¡°I¡¯m really excited for Josh from the offense and position-player group,¡¯¡¯ Rays manager Kevin Cash said. ¡°He¡¯s probably the high guy, because two weeks ago, he was just having kind of a quiet spring. But to see him really catch fire here lately, having good at-bats and barreling balls -- it¡¯s really encouraging.¡¯¡¯
Here are some other takeaways from the spring finale:
Littell¡¯s final tuneup
Right-hander Zack Littell had a rough first inning, allowing three runs on four hits. He appeared to give up a home run to Max Kepler when the ball eluded leaping center fielder Colton Ledbetter, but it fell behind the protective padding along the wall and dropped to the warning track. It was ruled a ground-rule double.
¡°I thought I saw it go under the yellow [line], so I thought it was a double,¡¯¡¯ Littell said. ¡°But that¡¯s not a great feeling, though, when you¡¯re [debating] whether it¡¯s a homer or a double.
¡°They came out swinging, but my stuff was in a really good spot and I felt really good over the plate. I actually don¡¯t think I executed poorly.¡¯¡¯
Littell is scheduled to start the second game of the regular season on Saturday against the Rockies, following Ryan Pepiot's Opening Day assignment. Littell finished with an 8.10 ERA in four spring outings, allowing 23 hits in 13 1/3 innings.
Following his rocky opening frame, Littell retired the only two batters he faced in the second -- getting Brandon Marsh to ground out and striking out Trea Turner looking -- before Cash went to the bullpen.
¡°Look, in the first inning, you were more concerned about just the command, but he reeled it back in and got back in the zone,¡¯¡¯ Cash said. ¡°Sometimes, you just have to be reminded to trust your stuff, throw it in the zone and let the defense play. I was not overly concerned. I was happy the way the second inning unfolded.¡¯¡¯
No 'Bigge' ¡ but he¡¯s back!
Last weekend, for approximately a 24-hour period, right-hander Hunter Bigge appeared ticketed for Triple-A Durham.
¡°I was obviously disappointed to not be on the Opening Day roster, but I know that¡¯s how baseball goes,¡¯¡¯ Bigge said.
But on Saturday, when ace left-hander Shane McClanahan departed a game with nerve irritation in his left triceps area, Cash and his staff made the call. With McClanahan headed to the injured list, Bigge was back as part of the big league bullpen.
¡°I try to focus on the things that I can control, which is going out there and giving it my all when I¡¯m on the field and helping out whatever team I¡¯m on win baseball games," Bigge said. "Filling up the zone and just continuously trying to get better.
"They told me [about being sent to the Minors] in the morning on Saturday. I was pretty sad all day Saturday. I was like, ¡®I¡¯m going to be sad today.¡¯ Then, I wake up Sunday and [I'm] getting back after it again.¡¯¡¯
Odds and ends
? Jonny DeLuca was scheduled to start Monday¡¯s game in center field, but he was a late scratch due to an illness.
? After an off-day Tuesday, the Rays will play a six-inning intrasquad game on Wednesday at Steinbrenner Field. Cash said he¡¯s optimistic that catcher Danny Jansen, recovering from a pulled rib muscle, will see action.
? The Rays finished 12-13-5 in the Grapefruit League.