1 Rays player having a shocking start to the 2026 season

The look on Trevor Megill's face says it all. How does one hit a ball that far out of the zone to the right field gap for a go-ahead double? The Rays' dugout was probably asking the same question, but embraced him with open arms after executing one of the biggest hits of the season to this point. Despite a fantastic spring, nobody expected his regular season to be this similar.

Nick Fortes' performance to start the season has been a pleasant surprise

The former Marlins' catcher was acquired by the Rays in a midseason trade last year to fill a vacant hole after the departure of Danny Jansen. He was viewed a defense-first catcher, but his offensive production so far this season tells a different tale.

In 97 games last season, the Miami-born catcher hit a dismal .229 with five home runs and only 21 RBIs. Catchers aren't generally known for their hitting, but one would hope for more production than that from any fielder. The Rays may have found their "diamond in the rough" behind the plate as Fortes' offense has taken a huge leap forward in the first five games of the 2026 season.

The 29-year-old backstop has appeared in each game thus far and he has produced a hearty .375 AVG with a homer and four RBIs. On Opening Day, Nick Fortes collected 3 of the Rays' 17 hits in their disappointing loss to the Cardinals. The second game of the season saw backup catcher Hunter Feduccia in the lineup, but Fortes still got a key at-bat and made the most of it, collecting his fourth hit and boosting his average to .667.

The 5'11 athlete struck again in the first game of the Brewers' series. With two out in the bottom of the ninth, Fortes crushed a go-ahead double that scored Jonny DeLuca and decided the Rays' key 3-2 victory.

On top of this amazing offensive surge, Fortes is also playing respectable defense behind the plate as he's getting comfortable with the ABS challenges, winning a key one in the second game against the Milwaukee Brewers. If he can keep up this unpredictable start, then he could be considered the best Rays' catcher since Mike Zunino in 2021.