Tampa Bay Rays Call Up Top Infielder Prospect Osleivis Basabe For MLB Debut
The Tampa Bay Rays have called up top infield prospect Osleivis Basabe for his MLB debut, the team's PR department announced Sunday morning.
Manager Kevin Cash penciled Basabe into his starting lineup Sunday, putting the Venezuelan prospect at shortstop and in the No. 9 hole. Tampa Bay will have two rookies on the left side of the infield, also starting Curtis Mead – who made his major league debut Aug. 4 – at third.
Basabe was ranked as the Rays' No. 6 prospect in the MLB Pipeline Top 100 midseason update. The 22-year-old was hitting .296 with four home runs, 58 RBI, 16 stolen bases and a .777 OPS through 94 games with Triple-A Durham.
In his minor league career, Basabe is a .311 hitter with an .801 OPS, splitting his time in the field relatively evenly between second base, third base and shortstop.
Basabe spent spring training with the Rays, batting .474 with one home run, eight RBI, two stolen bases and a 1.158 OPS.
To make room for Basabe on the active 26-man roster, the Rays optioned left-handed pitcher Josh Fleming to Triple-A Durham.
Tampa Bay is currently 71-48 on the season, but just 14-20 since July 1. Injuries to the Rays' previously dominant pitching staff have shook them up as of late, while the offense ranks No. 23 in runs since the All-Star break.
The Rays are hosting the Cleveland Guardians on Sunday, having won by one run on both Friday and Saturday. First pitch for the series finale is set for 1:40 p.m. ET.
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