Tank: O'Conner & Souza injured

This Date in Team History!

A very popular day for former Rays to be born as John Halama (1972), Russ Johnson (1973), Kelly Johnson (1982), Casey Kotchman (1983), and Daniel Nava (1983) all have birthdays today.

Not going to delve into all of their career, just stating that Halama served as a mediocre starter/reliever for Tampa Bay in 2004. Russ Johnson was with the team for parts of three seasons and even managed a .380 OBP in 85 games in 2001. Kelly Johnson served as a valuable backup infielder during the 2013 season and provided some pop off the bench. Kotchman can be considered the savior of the team's miraculous 2011 season, leading the Rays in hits and average. Nava spent the last two months of the 2015 season with Tampa and struggled in a part-time role.

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Trivia Time!

The answer to yesterday's question was Logan Morrison, answered by jtmorgan

Wrong answers included Wil Myers, Delmon Young, Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton, Manny Ramirez, Rocco Baldelli, Jose Molina, Hideki Matsui, and Ben Grieve.

Going to try out something new. If you all don't like it, just let me know and it;ll go away.

Guess this player based off a single-season stat line that occurred while only with the Rays.

AVG	OBP	SLG	HR	K%	BB%	wRC+	fWAR	Games
.275	.330	.498	24	20.0%	6.6%	111	1.3	122

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There are 41 days until Opening Day!

That's the same number of runs scored by one of the five players mentioned above, Kelly Johnson.

Two of those runs came during this two home run effort against the Marlins.

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Rays Spring Training Coverage

- Jaime Schultz is one of the best under-the-radar prospects in baseball, whether he's a starter or a reliever. He'll likely begin the season with Durham, but is among the non-roster invitees in the Rays camp.

- It was revealed during the Rays press conference on Thursday that top catching prospect, Justin O'Conner, was dealing with an injury. We learned how severe that was as he'll miss all of spring training with a herniated disk.

#Rays saying C Justin O'Conner (slight herniated disc) out 4-6 weeks so won't take part of big-league camp

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 21, 2016

- Steven Souza also was bitten by the injury bug, tweaking his back during some batting practice, although a lot less severe.

#Rays now say it's intercostal strain on Souza, which is less concerning than oblique. No MRI for a few days. Unclear on Friday availability

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 21, 2016

- Top pitching prospects, Jacob Faria an Blake Snell, learned the hard way that you don't be 'late' to a team meeting.

Even before #Rays 1st workout, Archer sets tone by scolding young Ps Faria + Snell for not arriving at facility early as other starters do

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 21, 2016

@ChrisArcher42 @TBTimes_Rays I'm here to learn from the best because I want to be the best. Appreciate you taking me under your wing Arch

— Jacob Faria (@JDFaria36) February 21, 2016

Talked to #Rays prospects Faria + Snell, both said they appreciated Archer calling them out for arrival time, will be there earlier Monday

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) February 21, 2016

- One of the several new Rays acquisitions, Hank Conger mashing in BP

.@PandaCrusher35 crushing. https://t.co/tQyX4B4thj

— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) February 21, 2016

Links!

- Chris Archer, who himself was adopted, was the driving force behind a teenager being adopted.

- Robert Emrich of MiLB.com did a Q&A with Rays slugging prospect, Richie Shaffer.

- Beyond the Box Score looks at players who teams may look to sign to extension before they reach their arbitration eligible years with Kevin Kiermaier topping the list.

- The Texas Rangers signed veteran pitcher, Jeremy Guthrie, to a minor league deal.

- For some reason, this is still a thing that major league teams do, the Marlins have adopted a no facial hair policy. Probably because they don't 'really want a bunch of 70's style Rod Beck-type goofballs running around out on the field'.