Tampa Bay Rays news and links: Kevin Kiermaier needs to clean up his defense

That was a rough way to end the series, but let’s give credit where it’s due, to Bobby Walker (h/t @raysbaseball for the name), Rays ball boy extraordinaire.

But while Bobby Walker shined, Kevin Kiermaier, arguably the best defender in baseball, has made a string of costly defensive mistakes.

Just sayin.

Links:

• Down on the farm, Jose De Leon made his first start.

• Steve Kinsella says that it’s time for the Rays to call up Ryne Stanek.
• The Rays had a chance to face former teammate Nate Karns, now with the Royals. Ryan Romano notes that, despite a high ERA, Karns is pitching at the highest level he ever has. It has to do with the groundball.
• Quality article from Eli Ben-Porat on Dylan Cozens and scouting the minors.
• Zach Crizer tried to put pitch framing in a team context.
• And finally, video of Rays prospect Casey Gillaspie: