Tampa Bay Rays: Rickie Weeks Pushing for Spot on Roster

Rickie Weeks is making the most of his chances with the Tampa Bay Rays, and is pushing for a spot on the Opening Day roster.

2011 MLB All-Star Rickie Weeks is making a strong push to make the Tampa Bay Rays opening day roster. Weeks came to the Rays as an Non-Roster Invitee in the offseason.

Rickie is currently sporting a .474 batting average along with a .545 on base percentage four weeks into Spring Training. He also has provided some power with 3 Home Runs and 10 Runs Batted In.

The former Brewers second basemen has been playing at first base this spring, a position the Rays could use some help at. Logan Morrison, who played the majority of games at 1^st base in 2016, only hit .238 last season. The Rays have been searching for a solid player at the position since releasing James Loney after last spring.

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Weeks has displayed solid power throughout his career, launching 159 home runs to go along with a .246/.344/.422 batting line in his 13-year career. He also participated in the 2011 home run derby, the same year he was selected to the NL All-Star team.

That ability to get on base is another important part of what Weeks brings to the table. In fact, his career .344 on base percentage compares favorably to that of Rays star Evan Longoria, who has an identical .344 on base percentage.

Joining the Rays would also be a homecoming for Weeks, who was born in Altamonte Springs, Florida, which is a little under two hours away from Tropicana Field.

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If Weeks can carry his spring training success into the regular season the Rays will strike gold on a very under the radar move, and strengthen the 1^st base position going into the 2017 season.