Newly acquired catcher sparks offense in debut with Rays

The Rays dropped their second consecutive spring training game today, but they were able to get the offense rolling after being shutout by the Yankees at Steinbrenner Field yesterday. Tampa Bay's newest addition behind the plate sparked the offense this afternoon with his first home run in a Rays uniform. In the bottom of the second inning, Danny Jansen crushed a solo homer off of Red Sox starting pitcher Quinn Priester.

The Rays acquired the right-handed hitting catcher through a free agency deal this offseason. Although it seems like he's been in the league for quite awhile, the 29-year old actually began his MLB journey with the Blue Jays in 2018. Seven years in the league certainly makes him one of the most experienced players on this roster, but it also means that he still has some seasons left in the tank.

The Rays current contract with the Illinois native includes an option for the 2026 season after the conclusion of this year. It depends on how the 2025 season plays out, but it is probable that he will accept the option, unless he has an unbelievable year. Even so, Jansen could easily find himself enjoying his time in Tampa Bay.

The 6'2 backstop wasn't able to stay on the field consistently in his stint with Toronto, as he only surpassed the 100 games mark once in his career. However, his offensive numbers have impressed for the laborious position. Jansen has collected four double-digit home run seasons in his career so far (2019, 2021, 2022, and 2023). He has also accrued a career OBP above .300.

2024 was a difficult season for Jansen as he was traded from the Blue Jays to the Red Sox at the deadline. Some may remember that he is well known for "playing for two different teams in the same game" (It's a long story). The former 16th round pick struggled at the plate for the two clubs, as he hit .209 with nine home runs and 24 RBIs.

Now a part of his third different AL East organization, Jansen is expected to have a breakout campaign. According to FanGraphs Steamer projections, he is projected to slash .228/.312/.416 with 14 home runs and 44 RBIs this coming season. After Rays catchers combined for a grand total of only nine home runs a season ago, this would be a major improvement to the offensive output.