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PORT CHARLOTTE — This wasn’t the comeback that Eloy Jimenez envisioned, but he doesn’t feel as if he’s far from getting his career back on track.
The Rays informed Jimenez Friday that he wasn’t making the opening day roster and offered him a spot with Triple-A Durham. Jimenez could have opted out of his contract on Saturday but decided to accept the team’s Triple-A offer.
“It was not just my (decision),” Jimenez said. “It was my family, too. We like it here. We feel really good here. So, we just want to give it a try and see what happens.”
Jimenez, 28, was a dependable, middle-of-the-order hitter for the White Sox from 2019-22, hitting .276 with an average of 36 homers per 162 games. His offense dipped in 2023 and fell even further last season, when he was traded by Chicago to Baltimore. The Orioles opted not to pick up his 2025 option.
Expected to compete with Curtis Mead for the final roster spot among position players when camp opened, Jimenez got off to a slow start while Mead was Tampa Bay’s most impressive hitter. It didn’t help Jimenez’s case that he’s most likely a designated hitter with occasional appearances in leftfield, while Mead is able to play first, second and third base.
“I’ve got no doubt,” Jimenez said, when asked whether he could hit like he did earlier in his career. “Because the beginning (of spring) was tough, the end was going to be tough. Last year was tough, but that’s in the past. This is a new year, a new Eloy.”
As a veteran with six years of service time who finished last season on a major-league roster, Jimenez also has opt-outs on May 1 and June 1 if he wants to sign with another team. He is hitting .244 with two homers in 41 at-bats this spring.
“I’m just appreciative of him going to Durham,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Let’s see where a month of at-bats takes us.”
The Rays made it through most of the spring without injury concerns, but issues have been piling up in recent days. Alex Faedo appears to be heading to the injured list with a sore shoulder, Richie Palacios fractured the tip of a finger during fielding drills last week, and now catcher Danny Jansen has a muscle pull in his rib area.
“Jansen grabbed his intercostal, so we’re trying to just manage it and keep him off the field for a couple of days,” Cash said. “He’s in a really good spot. He’s feeling really good. So, we’re still optimistic about everything, but I’d like to see him either the last (exhibition) game (Monday) or the intrasquad game (Wednesday).”
It might not be as exciting as hopping on a plane at the end of spring training, but the Rays broke camp Saturday with their final game at Charlotte Sports Park. The Rays have games in Tampa Sunday and Clearwater Monday. “That’s a fun drive to go up north,” Cash said. “There’s no doubt we appreciate our time in Port Charlotte and the community here, but six weeks is a long time. So, to get (home) is a good thing.” … Some of the pitchers, including Taj Bradley, will stay in Port Charlotte to throw on the back fields on Tuesday. Shane Baz will pitch in the intrasquad game, along with some relievers … With his batting average down to .128 for the spring (5-for-39), Junior Caminero may not be heading into the regular season in the best frame of mind. “It sure would be nice if he got that confidence going, but he’s a pretty confident guy,” Cash said. “Watching him through these struggles, it’s pretty telling that you don’t see it too much. He doesn’t take it on the field with him.”
• • •
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The Rays informed Jimenez Friday that he wasn’t making the opening day roster and offered him a spot with Triple-A Durham. Jimenez could have opted out of his contract on Saturday but decided to accept the team’s Triple-A offer.
“It was not just my (decision),” Jimenez said. “It was my family, too. We like it here. We feel really good here. So, we just want to give it a try and see what happens.”
Jimenez, 28, was a dependable, middle-of-the-order hitter for the White Sox from 2019-22, hitting .276 with an average of 36 homers per 162 games. His offense dipped in 2023 and fell even further last season, when he was traded by Chicago to Baltimore. The Orioles opted not to pick up his 2025 option.
Expected to compete with Curtis Mead for the final roster spot among position players when camp opened, Jimenez got off to a slow start while Mead was Tampa Bay’s most impressive hitter. It didn’t help Jimenez’s case that he’s most likely a designated hitter with occasional appearances in leftfield, while Mead is able to play first, second and third base.
“I’ve got no doubt,” Jimenez said, when asked whether he could hit like he did earlier in his career. “Because the beginning (of spring) was tough, the end was going to be tough. Last year was tough, but that’s in the past. This is a new year, a new Eloy.”
As a veteran with six years of service time who finished last season on a major-league roster, Jimenez also has opt-outs on May 1 and June 1 if he wants to sign with another team. He is hitting .244 with two homers in 41 at-bats this spring.
“I’m just appreciative of him going to Durham,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “Let’s see where a month of at-bats takes us.”
Jansen hurting
The Rays made it through most of the spring without injury concerns, but issues have been piling up in recent days. Alex Faedo appears to be heading to the injured list with a sore shoulder, Richie Palacios fractured the tip of a finger during fielding drills last week, and now catcher Danny Jansen has a muscle pull in his rib area.
“Jansen grabbed his intercostal, so we’re trying to just manage it and keep him off the field for a couple of days,” Cash said. “He’s in a really good spot. He’s feeling really good. So, we’re still optimistic about everything, but I’d like to see him either the last (exhibition) game (Monday) or the intrasquad game (Wednesday).”
Miscellany
It might not be as exciting as hopping on a plane at the end of spring training, but the Rays broke camp Saturday with their final game at Charlotte Sports Park. The Rays have games in Tampa Sunday and Clearwater Monday. “That’s a fun drive to go up north,” Cash said. “There’s no doubt we appreciate our time in Port Charlotte and the community here, but six weeks is a long time. So, to get (home) is a good thing.” … Some of the pitchers, including Taj Bradley, will stay in Port Charlotte to throw on the back fields on Tuesday. Shane Baz will pitch in the intrasquad game, along with some relievers … With his batting average down to .128 for the spring (5-for-39), Junior Caminero may not be heading into the regular season in the best frame of mind. “It sure would be nice if he got that confidence going, but he’s a pretty confident guy,” Cash said. “Watching him through these struggles, it’s pretty telling that you don’t see it too much. He doesn’t take it on the field with him.”
• • •
Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.
Continue reading...
