The Tampa Bay Rays just completed a frustrating three games series with the Boston Red Sox, losing two of the three games. On Monday, the Rays blew multiple leads throughout the contest and just narrowly hung on to win the game, 10-8, in 11 innings. On Tuesday, the Rays offense hit the ball really well but had little to show for it and Boston would win, 3-1. Then on Wednesday, Zack Littell surrended four solo homeruns and the Rays offense failed to get hits with runners in scoring position, leading to a 4-3 loss.
The Tampa Bay Rays just completed a frustrating three games series with the Boston Red Sox, losing two of the three games. On Monday, the Rays blew multiple leads throughout the contest and just narrowly hung on to win the game, 10-8, in 11 innings. On Tuesday, the Rays offense hit the ball really well but had little to show for it and Boston would win, 3-1. Then on Wednesday, Zack Littell surrendered four solo homeruns and the Rays offense failed to get hits with runners in scoring position, leading to a 4-3 loss.
One player however did perform rather well during the Rays trip to Boston and that was veteran slugger, Yandy Diaz.
During the extra inning affair on Monday, Diaz singled in his second trip to the plate and eventually came around to score the Rays first run of the game. Later on in the fifth inning, Diaz singled again, lacing a ball through the right side of the infield. Boston outfielder Roman Anthony, making his big league debut, had the ball skip under his glove and allowed a run to score and Diaz advanced to third. Boston intentionally walked Diaz in the 7th, a move that failed as Diaz came around to score on a Jonathan Aranda single; Diaz would draw another walk in the 9th inning.
On Tuesday, there wasn’t much of anything to note, but Diaz did collect one of the Rays three hits on the night, knocking home the Rays lone run.
Then on Wednesday, Diaz did what he could; he swatted his 10th homerun of the season in the 5th inning, a two run blast that tied the game at three. In the 8th inning, Diaz attempted to kickstart a rally with a one out base hit (Jose Caballero would replace him to pinch-run), but it’d be in vain as the Rays fell, 3-1.
Diaz, 33, is now in his 9th season in the big leagues and 7th as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays. He is currently second on the Rays all-time leaderboard (min. 1000 PA) in OBP% (.368) and 1st in wRC+ (131).
The colossal Cuban received MVP consideration in 2022 and then again in 2023; Diaz also won the American League batting title in 2023, received his first All-Star game nod and Silver Slugger award as well.
Thus far in 2025, Diaz is hitting .256/.307/.425 with 10 HR over 277 PA, registering a 107 wRC+ and 0.5 fWAR across 63 games.
DRAYSBAY PLAYER OF THE SERIES
1st: Kameron Misner
2nd: Jake Mangum
3rd: Brandon Lowe
4th: Jose Caballero
5th: Joe Boyle
6th: Shane Baz
7th: Chandler Simpson
8th: Christopher Morel
9th: Chandler Simpson
10th: Mason Englert
11th: Taylor Walls
12th: Yandy Diaz
13th: Travis Jankowski
14th: Brandon Lowe
15th: Drew Rasmussen
16th: Curtis Mead
17th: Junior Caminero
18th: Zack Littell
19th: Zack Littell
20th: Junor Caminero
21st: Christopher Morel
22nd: Yandy Diaz
/GENERAL%20CROP%20(61).webp?ssl=1 "Cadillac boss Graeme Lowdon on the team’s preparation ahead of 2026 debut and their ‘first target’")
