2 Rays hitters that will be competing for bench spot this spring training

As we near spring training, some of the invitees are just trying to make themselves known, so they could possibly be considered as options towards the back end of the season or next year. However, others are itching for a spot on the 2025 Opening Day roster. Only 26 players are eligible to make a club's roster come March, so it will be an intriguing race to the finish line.

According to Rays beat writer Adam Berry, former Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim and Rule 5 draft pick Nate Lavender will likely be placed on the injured list at the onset of the season, so they won't affect the roster stipulations until they get called up. Also, half of the total will be members of the pitching staff, so that leaves only 13 available slots for position players. If nine players take the field at any given moment, then there are only four bench roles available for the Rays out of spring training.

Based on the results of last season, it appears that three of those spots are virtually claimed by Ben Rortvedt, Jose Caballero, and Richie Palacios. We are assuming that Jonathan Aranda will be seen as a potential designated hitter, so he is considered a part of the starting lineup for the sake of this article. Therefore, only one spot remains for two highly touted athletes.

Curtis Mead

Australian infielder Curtis Mead was acquired by the Rays through a trade in 2019 that saw them send 2024 All-Star hurler Cristopher Sanchez to Philadelphia. The talented contact hitter has been a top 100 prospect in the league since 2022, but he's never been able to find his niche in the big leagues. Mead has been a staple in the Rays minor league system, hitting just under .300 for his career and driving in over 200 runs.

However, the regression that he experiences as soon as he gets significant major league playing time is concerning. In 62 games with the Rays since 2023, the 6'1 third baseman has hit .244 with only nine extra-base hits. That offensive production won't keep him on the field with the depth all around the Tampa Bay infield.

Moreover, with the rise of star third baseman Junior Caminero and the signing of future shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, Curtis Mead is left in a difficult situation. He will need to have an impressive spring to break this talented roster and hopefully prove he can stay even after Kim's return.

Eloy Jimenez

The signing of Eloy Jimenez was one of the most interesting deals of the entire offseason. First of all, it was unexpected because few people had the former Silver Slugger on their free agency radar. However, he was once wildly successful with the Chicago White Sox, finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2019.

Although, the 28-year old has declined as of late, so he'll need to prove his abilities with the Rays this spring training.

A few factors that Curtis Mead has over Eloy Jimenez in this roster battle is his familiarity with the organization and an upgrade on defense. Jimenez will likely be in a DH role due to his poor defense which will limit the Dominican slugger, especially for a team that heavily values fielding. RaysColoredGlasses predicts that Mead will beat out Jimenez for the final roster spot, but he'll be sent back down when Ha-Seong Kim arrives.