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Tampa Bay Rays Opening Day Countdown: 15 days to go

A key member of the Rays first ever playoff run donned the number 15, as well as one of the top prospects in franchise history

By Adam Sanford
Tampa Bay Devil Rays v Texas Rangers

There are now 15 days until Opening Day.

Looking back, nine players have worn the number 15 for the Tampa Bay Rays.

  • Kerry Robinson (1998)
  • David Lamb (1999)
  • Kenny Kelly (2000)
  • Paul Hoover (2001-2002)
  • Casey Fossum (2005-2007)
  • Cliff Floyd (2008)
  • Reid Brignac (2009-2012)
  • Shelly Duncan (2013)
  • Delmon Young (2013)

Kerry Robinson was selected by the Rays during the expansion draft in 1997, and would make his Major League debut in 1998, but played a grand total of just two games with the team in 1998.

During the 1999 season, David Lamb — A Rule 5 pick — took over the jersey for the Rays, playing in a total of 55 games and performing at well below replacement level (-0.9 fWAR & 50 wRC+).

David Lamb #15

During the 2000 season, Kenny Kelly played in two games for Rays and had one plate appearance...that was it.

It would be 2005, before the jersey was born again when the Rays acquired LHP Casey Fossum from the Arizona Diamondbacks. Fossum would become a member of the Rays starting rotation for the next year and half before be relegated to the bullpen where he struggled. He would eventually be released halfway through the 2007 season.

During the 2008 season, the Rays brought in veteran OF Cliff Floyd. The veteran Floyd would play in 80 games for the Rays, providing a solid bat from the team’s DH. Floyd was perhaps even valuable as a member of the clubhouse, serving a mentor role to a team of young players who mostly had never completed in a playoff atmosphere before.

Overall, Floyd would hit .268/.349/.455 with 11 HR, accruing 0.5 fWAR and finishing the year with 114 wRC+.

Boston Red Sox v Tampa Bay Rays, Game 7 Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images

Top prospect, Reid Brignac, came up in 2009 and took over the number 15 for the Rays.

Unfortunately, Brignac would never fully realize his potential has he struggled throughout his time in the majors with the Rays. In 2010, he delivered a solid season, accruing 1.4 fWAR, but this would be his best mark thus far in his major league career.

From 2009 to 2012, Brignac hit .230./271/.322 with 10 HR over 252 games played, good for 62 wRC+ and accumulating a grand total of 0.3 fWAR. He would be sent on his way prior to spring training in 2013.

During the 2013 season, Shelly Duncan and Delmon Young would spend a couple of months with the Rays, both donning the number 15.

Check back tomorrow as the countdown continues.

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