Rays Arizona Fall League Rundown
When the regular season ended, seven Rays minor league players began their play in the Arizona Fall League. Here’s a rundown of who’s there and how they have fared through October 13th:
Mason Auer — the organization’s Base Runner of the Year, Auer has picked up where he left off in the regular season. One of three Rays 2021 draft picks to go to Arizona this year and the only position player, Auer stole 48 bases in 55 tries. In 115 games, the outfielder hit .290 with 21 doubles, 12 triples, 15 homers and an .859 OPS. Auer had two doubles and triples in his first six games in the AFL, going 8-for-29 with four stolen bases.
Alex Ayala — a left handed pitcher taken in the ninth round in 2021 out of Florida Southwestern State College in Fort Myers, Ayala impressed as a starter and reliever in the Rays system. Ayala was 4–1 with a 3.63 ERA over 16 outings, six as a starter. Ayala struck out 68 in 57 innings, giving up just 42 hits. Ayala split time this year between the Florida Complex League and Charleston. In his only AFL appearance, Ayala threw two scoreless innings, striking out three while giving up three hits.
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Sandy Gaston — just 20 years of age, Gaston has one of the more impressive arms in the Rays system and is the youngest Tampa Bay prospect in the AFL. For Gaston it’s a matter of consistently throwing strikes. The hard-throwing righty was 2–4 with a 4.61 ERA for Charleston this season. Gaston was much better after he was moved to the bullpen for the RiverDogs, pitching to a 16.88 ERA as a starter, compared to 2.55 as a reliever. Gaston overall struck out 77 batters in 54.2 innings, but also walked 56. In his first three outings in the AFL, Gaston has continued to struggle with control, walking eight in 1.2 innings.
Blake Hunt — acquired from the Padres in the Blake Snell trade, the 23-year-old is one of two Rays prospects in Arizona that could be taken in the Rule 5 draft. Hunt spent the entire season in Double-A Montgomery, hitting .245 with five homers, 39 RBI and a .677 OPS. Hunt improved as the season went on offensively, as all five of his homers came after August 1st. Hunt also had 21 RBI during his final 27 games played, and his OPS was well above .800 during that stretch. In the AFL, Hunt has gone 5-for-14 with three walks and two RBI.
Antonio Menendez — a 14th round selection of the Rays in 2021 out of Wake Forest, the right handed reliever impressed in 20 appearances with three different clubs. Menendez, who pitched in the Florida Complex League, Charleston and Bowling Green, allowing just one homer in 37 innings. Menendez gave up just 27 hits and 10 walks while striking out 48, compiling a 1.70 ERA. Menendez then closed out a championship for Bowling Green, allowing just a run over 6.1 innings. In three appearances for Mesa, Menendez has given up four runs in 5.2 innings.
Tanner Murray — A fourth round pick of the Rays in 2020, Murray can benefit from the extra reps against high level competition in the AFL. The reps also are beneficial because the former UC Davis standout played in just 66 games this year and 39 last season due to injury. Murray hit .276 with 6 HR, 38 RBI and a .734 OPS in 66 contests this season for Bowling Green. In his first two AFL games, Murray was 2-for-6 with a pair of walks.
Evan Reifert — a right-handed reliever, Reifert just completed his first season in the Rays system. Traded from Milwaukee to Tampa Bay for Mike Brosseau, Reifert had a tough start to the season in Montgomery, then excelled after going to Bowling Green. With the Hot Rods, Reifert was 6–2 with two saves and a 3.67 ERA over 20 outings. He walked 11 and struck out 43 in just 27 innings. Reifert has carried over that success in the AFL. In his first two outings, the undrafted free agent out of Central Missouri has thrown four perfect innings with seven strikeouts.
Ronny Simon — an infielder who can play second, short or third, Simon was acquired from Arizona last offseason for Jordan Luplow. Simon, who can be taken in Rule 5, played 70 games in Bowling Green, then the final 39 with Montgomery. Overall, he hit .260 with 22 homers, 76 RBI and 34 steals with a .782 OPS over 109 contests. Simon set career highs in homers, RBI and runs scored (82). The 22-year-old has impressed in his first six games with Mesa, going 8-for-26 with two doubles, two homers and nine RBI.
