The Rays announced that they have designated catcher Erik Kratz for assignment. His roster spot will go to fellow backstop Mike Zunino, who has been activated from the injured list.
Kratz turns 39 in mid-June and still hasn’t topped a thousand career MLB plate appearances, but he has carved out a second act as a trustworthy journeyman reserve. Unfortunately, he has managed only five hits and two walks in 53 plate appearances this year with the Giants and Rays.
Zunino ended up missing three weeks with a quad strain. It may have felt like a lengthier duration than that for a Tampa Bay team that has received next to nothing offensively from the catching position. Zunino hasn’t exactly torn it up at the plate himself, turning in a familiar blend of good pop and unsightly on-base numbers. But he has been much more productive than Kratz and Travis d’Arnaud, who have stepped in amidst a dizzying run of injuries for Rays catchers. (Michael Perez and Anthony Bemboom are still on the IL.)
The Marathon continues,
Good luck Erik.
Erik Kratz has been on nine teams in his career and has been traded eight times
I thought Mike Zunino was still with the Mariners and their future catcher.
Welcome back from your 7-month nap.
It’s not like there’s any reason to remember him or mallex Smith this season so I can see how it was missable.
Erik has never hit a major league triple and it looks like he never will.
Wonder what the higher number is. The teams that Erik Kratz has been on, or the amount of kids Drake has that he never sees…
Zunino’s defense and timely hitting is a big boost to the Rays and the bottom of the line up.
I never thought I would be so excited to see Zunino in my team’s lineup! The past few weeks have been rough, wow…though d’Arnaud has shown some good d and even a few hits lately. But wow, we need Perez and Zunino both back. Pretty impressive how good the Rays have been with that group of catchers…
even the best teams can get away with mediocre catching offense – just ask last year’s WS champs.