What Rays fans can be thankful for this Thanksgiving

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ST. PETERSBURG, FL SEPTEMBER 9: Tommy Pham #29 of the Tampa Bay Rays is greeted by teammate Willy Adames #1 after scoring a run in the first inning of the game against the Baltimore Orioles at Tropicana Field on September 9, 2018 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Joseph Garnett Jr./Getty Images) /

Last season’s 96 wins wouldn’t have been possible without the perfect mix youthful exuberance and veteran leadership, and that is something to be thankful for.

When you look at the youthful core building in Tampa Bay headlined by Willy Adames, Austin Meadows, Brandon Lowe, and the dominant duo of Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow you can’t overlook just how important veterans like Charlie Morton and Tommy Pham are.

The Rays’ front office has seemingly found the perfect mix of veteran leadership and youthful exuberance to be successful. When you pair the dominance of Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell with the unflappable demeanor of Charlie Morton, you get one heck of a starting rotation. Combine Tommy Pham’s no-nonsense approach to the excitement that exudes from Willy Adames, and you get a dynamic and dangerous duo.

Everywhere you look on the Rays roster, there is a perfect mix of experience and hunger for experience at the highest level. We can never underestimate just how important it is to have prominent veterans like Kevin Kiermaier, Mike Zunino, Tommy Pham, and Charlie Morton in a locker-room to guide the inexperienced core into the fire.

Honorable Mentions to be thankful for:

Ji-Man Choi’s dance moves and walk-off celebrations
Yandy Diaz’s newly discovered power
KK’s daily, jaw-dropping display of defense in CF
Tyler Glasnow’s fastball/curveball combination
Ozzie Timmons’ mid-game workouts

Next. 3 reasons to like the Zunino deal. dark

As we approach a new year and eventually a new season, don’t forget just how much we have to be thankful for as fans of the Tampa Bay Rays.