August 13: The Rays have now officially recalled Basabe, with left-hander Josh Fleming optioned in a corresponding move.
August 12: The Rays will promote infield prospect Osleivis Basabe to the majors prior to tomorrow’s game with the Guardians, according to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El ExtraBase (Twitter link). Basabe is already on Tampa’s 40-man roster, and his first in-game appearance will mark the 22-year-old’s Major League debut.
The Rangers signed Basabe during the 2017-18 international signing period, but then dealt Basabe to Tampa Bay as part of the five-player swap that saw Nathaniel Lowe end up in Arlington. While Lowe has gone onto become a fixture in the Rangers lineup, it’s rare to see the Rays ever come up short in a trade, and now Basabe looks like an interesting candidate for big-league infield work after a solid season at Triple-A Durham.
Basabe’s hitting took a step up during his 2022 minor league campaign at the high-A and Double-A levels, which earned him his first trip to Triple-A in 2023. His season at Durham has resulted in a .297/.350/.427 slash line and four homers over 424 plate appearances, with 16 steals as well as 24 doubles and seven triples. This performance has boosted his prospect stock, as MLB Pipeline (6th) and Baseball America (7th) each rank Basabe within the top seven minor leaguers in the deep Rays farm system.
Both outlets view Basabe as a 60-grade hitter with 55-grade speed, able to beat out some of the many balls that he puts into play with his excellent contact skills. The power is a question mark, but Basabe’s approach at the plate and ability to draw walks makes him a decent offensive threat even if he might need a bit more pop to stick as a big league regular. Defensively, Basabe is yet another Rays versatile infield prospect, as he has gotten a lot of time at shortstop, second base, and third base and played solidly well at all three spots.
Speculatively, it could be that Basabe might replace Curtis Mead on the active roster, as Mead hasn’t done much at the plate since making his own MLB debut last week. The Rays might prefer to give Mead more regular playing time at Triple-A to get his groove back, whereas Basabe might fit more smoothly into a right-handed hitting, part-time infield role. While the Rays are known for juggling lineups, they’ve gotten into a somewhat regular alignment of Wander Franco at shortstop, Yandy Diaz at first base, Brandon Lowe at second base, and Isaac Paredes at third, leaving little room for Mead, Basabe or anyone to really clock regular at-bats behind these established starters.
The who!?
His name backwards is Sivielso Ebasab.
I like that better.
Now this is a solid reply.
Unscrambled it spells basebal is so vie.
Love the name, Sivielso… would that be a stand alone like Prince/Madonna, or shortened to “Sivi Ebasab”? Well played, DC.
Is he related to Luis Basabe?
Yes, they are cousins.
Thanks!
He Besabe better than what they got now
It’s going to come down to how this guy does in the majors that determines if the Nate Lowe trade was a total loss for the Rays or not. I didn’t love that trade for them at the time and still don’t, but Basabe does have some solid potential.
“While Lowe has gone on to be a fixture in the Rangers lineup, it’s rare to see the Rays come up short in a trade”. Really? That is such a tired and lazy narrative. Lowe has become one of the top three 1B in the game today. Short of Basabe becoming MVP, the Rangers clearly fared better in that trade.
I’m a huge Nate Lowe fan but top 3 1B? Are you serious? He’s turned into a good player but definitely not a top 3 first baseman.
Olsen, Goldschmidt, Freeman, Guerrero Jr. come to mind. Seems to fit top 5 on a good day, EASILY top 10, but I think you’re right.
If the top five first basemen are you, me, my grandma, Whoopi Goldberg, and Lowe…. He is a top three first baseman.
Lowe’s not even currently better than Yandy Diaz. He’s a top 10 1B without a doubt but he’s not sniffing my top 3.
What??? Sending Mead back down? But he’s one of the most dangerous hitters in the minors…. oh wait… He seldom strikes out… but he walks….. well… not really.
Way too much hype.
How stupid can you be writing Meade off after a dozen atbats
Not as stupid as not being able to spell his name correctly and thinking he’s one of the most dangerous hitters in the minors.
@Melchy
Go down a few posts and see how stupid you are…..Nice spelling!
The Rays will give him a few up-and-down cup of coffees this season, but he likely doesn’t become a regular for another season or two.
With Camerino and williams on the way and meade still a better prospect he NEVER becomes a regular for the rays just like Aranda
They will hype up Mead and then flip him to some other team and get a guy the Rays will turn into a star. Mead will fade away into the sunset.
Wow you should be a general mgr. Or better yet stock advisor with your ability to predict the future
Did someone pee in your fruitloops? You sound cranky today.
I was hoping the Tigers would obtain Osleivis in a trade for Eduardo Rodriguez, but obviously never happened.
I can’t believe Harris couldn’t trade Rodriguez, Cisnero or Shreve. Complete failure.
Auditioning the next cheap but promising infielder for inevitable no tendering of a solid veteran (in TB that’s anyone older than 26)…
Suggestion to MLBTR… please improve your search. I type in Mead to look for the article about Meade getting promoted… it was just a week ago… instead I get Wander Franco articles… an article on the Rays interest in Nimmo… talking about Tsutsugo. Nothing about the article that was just written.
Strange that Fleming was sent down. Not sure how both Mead and Basabe can get at bats on this roster. Also feels a little like they’re throwing in the towel on Brujan. Between them, Walls and Aranda, one or two will need to go this off-season.
Well, he is about to be the everyday SS once the news breaks that Wander Franco has been having a sexual relationship with a 14 YEAR OLD. Career. Over.
The rays look like they’ll have a much smaller future payroll obligation on their hands…..What a F’n idiot.
No mention of the Wander Franco news?
Gee I Wander why not? Touchy site