The Tampa Narrows Beams have been attacked by wounds hitherto in 2024 and their profundity is beginning to get tried. Entering camp, the group realized it would have to search for a reinforcement infielder to play behind Jose Caballero with Taylor Walls going through hip medical procedure during the offseason. The group acquired the adaptable veteran Amed Rosario to take care of that issue. In the outfield, the group was set with Jose Siri, Josh Lowe, and Randy Arozarena. Newcomers Jonny DeLuca, Ritchie Palacios, and the aforementioned Rosario would provide the majority of the backup. Harold Ramirez would see some time in the outfield. Meanwhile, Jonathan Aranda seemed certain to start at designated hitter for the team against right-handed pitchers when he arrived at camp. With less than a week until Opening Day, the Rays suddenly have three players who were scheduled to be on the roster but are now on the Injured List: Josh Lowe, Jonathan Aranda, and Jonny DeLuca. The wounds to DeLuca and Lowe will be covered by the triplet of Palacios, Ramirez, and Rosario getting significantly more outfield time than initially thought. The Rays, on the other hand, have a clear need for a left-handed bat due to Aranda’s absence. There is an internal option, and the Rays will keep their options open and search throughout the game for a suitable replacement. 26-year old Austin Shenton was added to the Beams 40-man program this previous November following a season in which he was among the top hostile entertainers in the lower levels in general. Shenton was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the fifth round of the 2019 draft. Throughout his entire professional career, he has hit extremely well. Shenton made it all the way to Double-A in the summer of 2021 before being traded to the Rays for Diego Castillo at the deadline. This was Shenton’s first full injury-free season with the Rays (he missed most of 2022 with a hip injury), and he was fantastic. Among players with somewhere around 300 plate appearances, Shenton’s 157 wRC+ was the twelfth most noteworthy (second in the Beams framework behind Jonathan Aranda’s 165 wRC+). Shenton draws strolls, getting the free sit back in Garbage A. Over 271 plate appearances in Triple-A, Shenton hit for power, slugging.603. The downside that has seriously influenced Shenton’s status as a possibility is that he is simply a hostile player. He runs very poorly and has only stolen one base in his professional career. His safeguard might be the most awful of any player in the lower levels; his arm is more regrettable than Curtis Mead’s, his glove is more regrettable than Jonathan Aranda’s, and as verified before his absence of speed implies he has restricted range. As per Baseball America, Shenton would have the most fragile tossing arm of any third baseman in the major associations; he likewise isn’t exceptionally exact. On the other corner of the infield, Shenton is a sub optimal first baseman. This past offseason, Shenton would have been qualified for the Standard 5 draft and notwithstanding his protection, the Beams felt that he would have been chosen. Subsequently, they added him to their 40-man program in November. The hostile potential gain for Shenton is monstrous as his hitting instruments place him a level just underneath that of Junior Caminero and Curtis Mead, however his protective inadequacy might make it hard for Shenton to get sufficient playing time to satisfy his hostile commitment. Shenton, on the other hand, may just be able to show off his offensive skills at the Major League level with a clear path to the Rays’ Opening Day roster.
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