The Tampa Bay Rays decided to go into a full-blown rebuild at the 2024 trade deadline, shipping away Randy Arozarena, Isaac Paredes, Zach Eflin, and Amed Rosario. Although the Rays roster is less talented today than before the trade deadline, these moves gave young players on the Rays a chance to prove their worth.
One of the most exciting players who is being given a chance to be an everyday starter for the Tampa Bay ballclub is Adelaide, Australia native Curtis Mead. The 23-year-old infielder has defensive versatility, being able to play first base, second base, and third base.
The young infielder played four seasons in the Australian Baseball League, boasting an impressive batting line of .302/.356/.443 during his ABL career. The youngster spent some time playing for the Rays’ major league roster in 2023 and 2024 and has been quite productive at the plate. Mead has a career batting average in the major leagues of .254 and now has an opportunity to improve his numbers, being an everyday player for the ball club.
The Rays would not have been so willing to part ways with their superstar if the organization did not feel that they had young players who could make an impact on the squad. Although the public thought that the Rays would implode after sending away their highest-paid players, the Rays have been doing quite well since the deadline, splitting a two-game series with the Marlins and winning an away series against the Astros.
The situation in Tampa Bay is not nearly as dire as critics make it out to be. With exciting young players like Mead and the prospects that the Rays acquired at the deadline, the Rays will have an extremely talented young roster in the upcoming years.
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WBN MLB: https://worldbaseball.com/league/mlb/
Photo Credit: Curtis Mead #25 of the Tampa Bay Rays reacts during the third inning against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on July 20, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
