Full 2017 Tampa Bay Rays Roster: Key Players and Team Performance

2017 Tampa Bay Rays Roster: A Look Back at the Team’s Key Players

Well now, let me tell ya about the 2017 Tampa Bay Rays. This here team, they wasn’t the best in the league, but they sure had some good folks. Back in 2017, they played in the American League, and their record was 80-82. Not bad, but not great either. They finished 3rd in the AL East Division, which ain’t too shabby if you ask me, but still, they didn’t make it to the playoffs that year.

Full 2017 Tampa Bay Rays Roster: Key Players and Team Performance

The Rays, they was managed by a fella named Kevin Cash. Now, he ain’t no stranger to the game, but managing ain’t always an easy thing, especially when your team is a bit up and down like the Rays were. Still, Kevin did his best and tried to keep the team together through thick and thin.

So, let’s talk about some of the folks who played that year. We had Chris Archer, a pitcher who was one of the top guys on the team. He had a strong arm, but sometimes he had a bit of trouble when it came to striking out the hitters. But ya know, all pitchers go through their ups and downs.

Then there was Wilson Ramos behind the plate as the catcher. Now, catching ain’t easy, but Wilson was steady. He knew how to handle the pitchers and help them out when they needed it. He also had some good bat power, bringing a little bit of offense to the team.

Logan Morrison was the first baseman for the Rays. He wasn’t too bad either, hitting some long balls here and there. He brought some pop to the lineup, which the Rays needed that season. It wasn’t the most powerful team, but they sure had a few folks who could get on base and bring in some runs.

Now, let’s not forget about the pitchers. Other than Chris Archer, there was a whole bunch of ’em, like Jake Odorizzi, Alex Cobb, and Blake Snell, who, even though he was just starting out, had some real promise. He was still learning, but he showed he could be something special in the future. I reckon folks were watchin’ him real close.

The outfielders didn’t get as much attention, but Kevin Kiermaier was a real standout. He was known for his defense, especially his ability to make those amazing catches out there in center field. That boy could track down a ball like nobody’s business. The Rays needed that kind of defense, ’cause their pitching staff didn’t always make it easy on the outfielders.

Evan Longoria was another big name that year. He’d been with the Rays for a long time, and he was a reliable third baseman with a strong bat. He wasn’t as flashy as some of the younger folks, but he sure could get the job done. The Rays could count on him to put the ball in play and do his part.

Now, the Rays didn’t have the biggest crowds comin’ out to see ’em play. They only had an average attendance of about 16,000 folks a game, which ain’t a lot when you think about it. But them that did come to the stadium, they sure got to see some good baseball, even if the team wasn’t quite championship material that year.

The 2017 season might not have been their best, but it showed what the Rays was made of. They were tough, they were gritty, and they had a few players who could shine. Even though they finished with a losing record, there was a lot of hope for the future, and fans were still lookin’ forward to seein’ what they could do next season.

The team wasn’t perfect, but they sure had some heart. Whether it was a big hit or a great play on defense, the Rays fans could always count on their team to keep fightin’ till the very end. And that’s what baseball is all about, ain’t it?