By Five Rays Reinforcements Who Could Make a Big Difference in September
By Ken Filler | Tampa Bay Sports Journal
TAMPA — The Tampa Bay Rays have reached September exactly where they wanted to be when the season began.
Playing meaningful baseball. Now comes the hard part.
The Rays have spent much of the season at or near the top of the American League East, but winning the division and putting themselves in position for a deep October run will possibly require more than the 26 players currently in the clubhouse.
Help is coming.
And some of that help could be significant.
The Rays have players working their way back from the injured list.
In contrast, Triple-A Durham has several intriguing options who could provide manager Kevin Cash with additional weapons during the final month.
Remember, September roster expansion isn’t what it used to be. Teams can only expand from 26 to 28 players.
So the Rays have decisions to make.
Here are five players who could make an impact for Tampa Bay during the September stretch run.
1. Griffin Jax, RHP
This could be the biggest addition of all.
And technically, it isn’t even an addition. It’s getting Griffin Jax back.
Jax has been on the 15-day injured list since August 9 because of right elbow discomfort, but everything appears to be moving in the right direction.
Jax pitched three innings for Triple-A Durham on August 23 before throwing four innings in a simulated game on August 28.
The most encouraging part?
He came out of it feeling “very good,” according to the Rays, and his next outing is expected to come with the Tampa Bay Rays.
That potentially puts Jax back with Tampa Bay in early September.
And the timing couldn’t be much better.
Before the injury, Jax had started to put together some impressive outings.
He allowed just one earned run in five innings against the White Sox on August 2, striking out eight.
In his previous start against Texas, he struck out 10 over 5⅔ innings while allowing one earned run.
He also threw six innings of one-run baseball against Toronto on July 22.
Now think about what that could mean for the Rays.
Tampa Bay already has Shane McClanahan back.
Drew Rasmussen has been pitching some of his best baseball of the season.
Freddy Peralta has started to look like the pitcher the Rays hoped they’d get.
Add a healthy Jax to that group.
Suddenly the Rays have another quality arm for September, and another intriguing option when Kevin Cash starts putting together his pitching plans for October.
What he brings: Another proven major-league arm, strikeout ability, and flexibility for the rotation.
2. Victor Mesa Jr., OF
Victor Mesa Jr. may be the closest player on this list to returning.
Mesa went on the injured list August 19 with a left hamstring strain, but he began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on August 26.
The Rays were hoping he could return around September 1.
That’s important.
Mesa hasn’t hit for a high average in the majors, batting .214, but let’s look beyond that number.
He has 10 home runs, 22 RBI, and six stolen bases in 159 at-batswith Tampa Bay.
That’s some good production in a relatively small number of at-bats.
He also brings something the Rays will need in September.
Athleticism.
Mesa can run. He can play the outfield. He can hit the ball out of the park.
Those become valuable weapons late in games.
Cash could use Mesa as a defensive replacement, pinch runner, or give him starts against favorable pitching matchups.
September baseball often comes down to one run.
Having another player who can create that run matters.
What he brings: Speed, defense, athleticism, and surprising power from the left side.
3. Jacob Melton, OF
This is the player who may be flying under the radar.
Jacob Melton deserves serious consideration for a September call-up.
The 25-year-old outfielder was acquired from Houston during the offseason and has battled injuries this season, but when he has been on the field, he has produced.
Melton is hitting .292 with seven home runs, 27 RBI and a .932 OPS in 144 minor-league at-bats.
But here’s the number that really jumps off the page.
26 stolen bases.
In only 144 at-bats, Melton was activated from Durham’s injured list on August 25 after dealing with a hamstring injury, and now he has an opportunity to force the Rays into a decision.
This is exactly the type of player who could become extremely valuable in September.
Melton isn’t completely unfamiliar with the major leagues.
Melton made his MLB debut with Houston last season and has 70 career major-league at-bats.
So the Rays wouldn’t be throwing him into something he’s never experienced before.
And with Tampa Bay potentially playing one-run games throughout September and October, Melton’s speed could become a legitimate weapon.
What he brings: Elite speed, outfield defense, a left-handed bat, and the ability to impact a game without necessarily getting a hit.
4. Jake Fraley, OF
Don’t forget about Jake Fraley.
Fraley has been out since May because of a hernia and was eventually transferred to the 60-day injured list.
But he’s getting closer.
Fraley began another rehab assignment with Durham on August 25, and the Rays have indicated his rehab is going well.
A September return is possible.
Fraley hit .232 with two home runs, seven doubles and five RBI in 82 at-bats before the injury.
Those numbers aren’t overwhelming. But Fraley’s value is about more than his overall batting average.
He’s an experienced major-league hitter who gives Cash another left-handed bat and another outfielder.
Fraley has more than 1,400 major-league plate appearances. He’s been through September baseball before.
That could make him an important bench piece down the stretch.
What he brings: Major-league experience, a left-handed bat, and another matchup option for Cash.
5. Ty Johnson, RHP
I’ve written about Ty Johnson before, and I’ll say it again.
What else does he have to do?
Johnson has been outstanding at Triple-A Durham.
The 24-year-old right-hander is 4-1 with a 2.85 ERA and a ridiculous 0.95 WHIP over 60 innings.
He has struck out 82 hitters.
That’s more than 12 strikeouts per nine innings.
Those aren’t numbers you ignore.
And here’s what makes Johnson particularly interesting for September.
The Rays wouldn’t necessarily have to use him as a conventional starter.
Give Cash another power arm capable of pitching multiple innings.
Maybe Johnson comes into a game in the fifth and gets you through the seventh.
Maybe he makes a spot start when the Rays want to give somebody in the rotation an extra day.
Maybe he becomes an unexpected bullpen weapon.
This organization has built its reputation on finding creative ways to use pitchers.
Johnson seems almost tailor-made for that philosophy.
And with the Rays hoping to play baseball well into October, protecting the arms already on the major-league roster will become increasingly important.
What he brings: Strikeouts, multiple-inning flexibility, and another fresh arm for the September grind.
Don’t Forget Jack Suwinski
There is another name worth mentioning.
Jack Suwinski. The veteran outfielder is hitting .275 with 21 home runs, 78 RBI and an .869 OPS in the minor leagues this season.
He also has something most of the Rays’ prospects don’t have — substantial major-league experience.
Suwinski has 57 career MLB home runs.
If the Rays decide it needs another left-handed power bat instead of another pitcher, Suwinski could easily enter the conversation.
That’s why the decisions facing the Rays aren’t going to be easy.
The Rays Suddenly Have Options
This is what you want entering September.
Jax could strengthen the pitching staff.
Mesa could add speed, power, and defense.
Melton could become a late-inning weapon.
Fraley provides another experienced left-handed bat.
Johnson could become the wild card of the pitching staff.
And Suwinski is sitting in Durham with 21 home runs.
That’s not a bad group of reinforcements.
The Rays have already put themselves in position to play October baseball. Now the goal changes.
Win the American League East.
Put yourself in the best possible postseason position.
And then see how far this thing can go.
There are still 26 games to finish and a couple of playoff rounds to play before anybody starts talking seriously about a World Series run.
But this Rays team has given Tampa Bay fans plenty of reasons to start thinking about October.
And some of the players who could help them get there aren’t even in the Rays clubhouse yet.
