The Rays announced that first baseman Bob Seymour has been released to pursue an opportunity in Asia. No details were provided about which team or country he is heading to. He was already off the 40-man roster, as he was designated for assignment last week.
Seymour, 27, has spent his entire professional career with the Rays thus far. A 13th-round pick from the 2021 draft, he crushed homers throughout his minor league career but also struck out quite a bit. In 2024, he launched 28 long balls in 123 games, split between Double-A and Triple-A. He slashed .281/.351/.523 for a 139 wRC+ but was also punched out in 30.6% of his plate appearances. In 2025, he hit 30 homers in just 105 Triple-A games. He had a .263/.327/.553 line and 122 wRC+ while striking out at a 25.7% pace.
He got called up in mid-August and spent about the final six weeks of the season in the big leagues. He stepped to the plate 83 times but struck out in 32 of those, a 38.6% pace, leading to a rough .205/.253/.282 line.
Despite the obvious power, Seymour has never really ranked as a notable prospect. He only plays first base and doesn’t have wheels, which means he has to hit to provide value. Given how often he strikes out, it was going to be hard for him to be a viable big league bat.
He still has a full slate of options. Even if he were claimed off waivers after being designated for assignment this week, he was likely destined for another year of riding the bus in Triple-A. Instead, he’ll head overseas somewhere, presumably for a bigger paycheck and a better opportunity. If he finds success wherever he is going, perhaps he will return to North America someday.
Photo courtesy of Darren Yamashita, Imagn Images
An as yet unnamed Asian audience will get a chance to see more Bob.
Good luck Bob
His name is Bob, he was notable in America, and now he’s going to Asia? I’ve heard of this before.
Lost in Translation: Part II.
MLB has lost Bob privileges.
the bob drought shall continue in mlb
I’ve got Bobby Witt Jr on line one…
He may be off to a country not in Asia. Thinking Zimbobway.
Wherever he goes, he’ll Seymour.
aah! you beat me to the pun lines. hope we’ll seymour of ’em.
well played!
I give Bob credit. He’s not stopping here in Pittsburgh first. We’ve been the gateway to the orient for so many guys, the last stop before getting on the train east
He reminds me a lot of fellow 1B Matt Mervis. Just can’t quite make enough solid contact against high end pitching. He should do well in Korea, for example, and make enough more than AAA money to make it worth the effort.