Rays Designate Alex Jackson For Task

The Rays introduced Thursday morning that they’ve designated catcher Alex Jackson for task and chosen the contract of left-hander Mason Montgomery from Triple-A Durham. Tampa Bay additionally optioned lefty Tyler Alexander to Durham and recalled infielder Austin Shenton.

Tampa Bay has caught with the 28-year-old Jackson all season, giving him 158 turns on the plate because the staff’s backup catcher regardless of a .122/.201/.237 batting line and sky-high 34.2% strikeout price. Jackson has performed robust protection, however that lack of productiveness within the batter’s field has now reached its tipping level, as Tampa Bay appears poised to show his function over to just lately promoted Logan Driscoll, who’s loved a powerful 12 months in Durham and can now pair with defensive standout Ben Rortvedt to comprise the Rays’ catching corps.

Jackson was taken by the Mariners with the No. 6 total choose within the 2014 draft and for years ranked as a prime prospect thanks to large uncooked energy and one of the vital spectacular highschool performances in latest reminiscence. He was in play as a attainable No. 1 total choose throughout his draft season and seen as a possible middle-of-the-order hitter. The M’s have been bullish sufficient on his bat and athleticism to maneuver him to proper subject instantly in professional ball, in hopes of fast-tracking his path to the massive leagues.

As an alternative, Jackson’s hit software by no means got here round to match his energy. He’s bounced across the league in a collection of small-scale trades and minor league contracts however by no means cemented himself as a constant large leaguer. In components of 5 MLB seasons, Jackson has taken 340 plate appearances and batted .132/.224/.232 with a staggering 41.8% strikeout price.

As he’s moved again behind the plate and continued to hone his defensive expertise within the minors, Jackson has change into a high quality defender at catcher. Nonetheless, his persistent strikeout troubles prolong even to the Triple-A degree (29.3%). He’ll now head to waivers and be made accessible to the opposite 29 golf equipment. If he clears, he’ll have the chance to elect free company, as is the case with all gamers who’ve been beforehand outrighted of their profession.

Montgomery, 24, was the Rays’ sixth-round choose in 2021 and ranked as one of many system’s prime arms for the previous few seasons. He’s had a dismal 12 months within the Triple-A rotation and is at the moment sitting on a 6.26 ERA regardless of a pointy 26.1% strikeout price and an solely barely higher-than-average 8.9% stroll price. Residence runs have been Montgomery’s downfall, as he’s yielded a mean of 1.95 lengthy balls per 9 innings pitched.

That stated, there’s purpose to maybe take a look at Montgomery in a extra favorable gentle. Past the intriguing Okay-BB profile, Montgomery moved to the bullpen on a full-time foundation in early August and has been borderline untouchable since. He’s fired 9 2/3 shutout innings since shifting to brief reduction, yielding simply 5 hits and 5 walks whereas punching out a mammoth 20 of the 38 hitters he’s confronted in his new function. He’ll give the Rays a recent arm for now but in addition has the potential to develop right into a long-term reduction weapon for supervisor Kevin Money.

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