With spring training in full swing, let’s take a look at the Tampa Bay Rays outfield this season.
The Rays will start Christopher Morel in left field. Morel, who was acquired from the Chicago Cubs mid-season last year, had a disappointing 2024. Morel hit .191 with three homers and nine runs batted in, striking out 56 times in 49 games. The Rays are counting on a significant offensive improvement from Morel in 2025.
Jonny DeLuca will start in center field. DeLuca was acquired from the Dodgers in the Tyler Glasnow trade. The 26-year-old was up and down offensively last year, hitting .217 with six homers while driving in 31 runs. DeLuca is another player that the Rays are banking on significantly improving with the bat. He has been above average defensively, though, which has kept him in the lineup when his offense wasn’t there.
Josh Lowe will get to start the season as the everyday right fielder. Lowe’s offensive numbers were abysmal in 2024 as he battled an oblique injury. The 30-year-old hit just .241 with 10 homers and drove in 34 runs in 106 games. Lowe must also cut down on his strikeouts. He struck out 123 times in 387 at-bats. Lowe is a threat to steal, though. He stole 25 bases last season while being caught just once. His 2023 numbers are what the Rays are counting on to get consistently. In 2023 (his first season with the Rays), Lowe hit .293 with 20 homers and 83 RBI’s, playing in 135 games.
Richie Palacios will earn a spot on the roster due to his versatility in playing various positions. Palacios played five positions last season and will fill in at all three outfield positions this season. He can also play at second base, shortstop, and third base.
Eloy Jimenez and Chandler Simpson are two other players who could earn a roster spot. Jimenez is on a prove-it deal after a disappointing 2024 campaign with just one home run in 95 at-bats with the Baltimore Orioles. Jimenez’s best season was his rookie season in 2019 with the Chicago White Sox. He hit 31 homers and drove in 79 runs.
Fans should be excited to see Chandler Simpson. Simpson does not have a lot of power but is an excellent contact hitter. Simpson hit .355 at AA Montgomery last season with one home run. He also led all of baseball with 104 stolen bases. Simpson may not make the club out of spring training. but will make his big-league debut sometime in 2025.
Jose Cabellero is the other player in the mix who is playing some in the outfield this spring. Cabellero and Taylor Walls will battle it out to start at shortstop for the first two months of the season until Ha-Seong Kim is ready to return to the lineup.