The Rays have a good squad due to a combination of one of the greatest pitching staffs in the AL and a good offense. Let's take a look at their group of batters and what to expect out of them in 2012. Check out our MLB baseball predictions for more franchise overviews.
Projected Batting Order
Jose Molina (Catcher) - By bringing on the 36-year-old Molina the Rays think they have upgraded at the catcher position. His best asset is defensively, as he is one of the tops in baseball at throwing out base stealers. He won't be well placed to give a lot offensively as he has just 29 homers and 163 RBI in his career, but he probably did bat a career-best .281 in 55 games with Toronto last season. So he could be a serviceable offensive threat in that regard.
Carlos Pena (First Base) - After spending the 2011 season with the Cubs, Pena returned to the Rays in the off-season. He hit just .225 with Chicago, but he has stayed a long ball threat with 28 home runs and 80 RBI. In his first three seasons with the Rays, he hit 116 home runs from 2007-2009.
Ben Zobrist (Second Base) - After an awful season in 2010, the 2009 All-Star got back on track with a good showing last season. He batted just .238 with 10 homers and 75 RBI, but managed to bat .269 with 20 homers and 91 RBI. If he manages to stay on course in 2012, he's got the potential to bat around .270 with 100 runs, 20 homers, 90 RBI and 20 stolen bases.
Reid Brignac (Shortstop) - Brignac has a lot to give defensively, but his offensive defenciencies are limiting his potential to get to a higher level as a player. He batted an abysmal .193 with only 1 home run and 15 RBI in 249 at-bats.
Evan Longoria (3rd Base) - After a bad start, Longoria ended the year with 31 homers and 99 RBI in 133 games. But his batting average ended up at a lowly .244. At the tender age of 26 though, I would not worry too much about his average, as it should climb back around .285 this year. As he hit his prime, we are likely to see the best of what he needs to offer over the next 5+ years.
Desmond Jennings (Left Field) - Regardless of a rough stretch at the end of the year, Jennings showed some solid potential in the 63 games he played last year. His .259 batting average should improve as the 25-year-old matures and get more experience. The thing that has a lot of people thrilled with this guy's potential is the undeniable fact that he hit 10 homers with 25 RBI and 20 stolen bases in a short time period. Jennings will eventually get a chance to showcase what he can do during the course of a full year.
B.J. Upton (Center Field) - Rumours have been bobbing around the Rays are looking to trade Upton at some point this season, but a lot of this will rely upon where the team sits around at the trade deadline. Upton's .243 batting average is an obvious result of his absence of discipline at the plate, His 161 strikeouts are really stressful, but his 23 home runs, 81 RBI and 36 steals from last year is tricky to ignore. He is just 27, so he still has a chance to breakout and be an elite player,
Matt Joyce (Right Field) - In his first full year with extended playing time, Joyce has be bullish with a good showing. He batted .277 with 19 homers and 75 RBI over 141 games. He has got a great opportunity to be one of the big surprises in 2012 if he will improve his game against lefties. (He has merely a .196 lifetime average against lefties.)
Projected Batting Order
Jose Molina (Catcher) - By bringing on the 36-year-old Molina the Rays think they have upgraded at the catcher position. His best asset is defensively, as he is one of the tops in baseball at throwing out base stealers. He won't be well placed to give a lot offensively as he has just 29 homers and 163 RBI in his career, but he probably did bat a career-best .281 in 55 games with Toronto last season. So he could be a serviceable offensive threat in that regard.
Carlos Pena (First Base) - After spending the 2011 season with the Cubs, Pena returned to the Rays in the off-season. He hit just .225 with Chicago, but he has stayed a long ball threat with 28 home runs and 80 RBI. In his first three seasons with the Rays, he hit 116 home runs from 2007-2009.
Ben Zobrist (Second Base) - After an awful season in 2010, the 2009 All-Star got back on track with a good showing last season. He batted just .238 with 10 homers and 75 RBI, but managed to bat .269 with 20 homers and 91 RBI. If he manages to stay on course in 2012, he's got the potential to bat around .270 with 100 runs, 20 homers, 90 RBI and 20 stolen bases.
Reid Brignac (Shortstop) - Brignac has a lot to give defensively, but his offensive defenciencies are limiting his potential to get to a higher level as a player. He batted an abysmal .193 with only 1 home run and 15 RBI in 249 at-bats.
Evan Longoria (3rd Base) - After a bad start, Longoria ended the year with 31 homers and 99 RBI in 133 games. But his batting average ended up at a lowly .244. At the tender age of 26 though, I would not worry too much about his average, as it should climb back around .285 this year. As he hit his prime, we are likely to see the best of what he needs to offer over the next 5+ years.
Desmond Jennings (Left Field) - Regardless of a rough stretch at the end of the year, Jennings showed some solid potential in the 63 games he played last year. His .259 batting average should improve as the 25-year-old matures and get more experience. The thing that has a lot of people thrilled with this guy's potential is the undeniable fact that he hit 10 homers with 25 RBI and 20 stolen bases in a short time period. Jennings will eventually get a chance to showcase what he can do during the course of a full year.
B.J. Upton (Center Field) - Rumours have been bobbing around the Rays are looking to trade Upton at some point this season, but a lot of this will rely upon where the team sits around at the trade deadline. Upton's .243 batting average is an obvious result of his absence of discipline at the plate, His 161 strikeouts are really stressful, but his 23 home runs, 81 RBI and 36 steals from last year is tricky to ignore. He is just 27, so he still has a chance to breakout and be an elite player,
Matt Joyce (Right Field) - In his first full year with extended playing time, Joyce has be bullish with a good showing. He batted .277 with 19 homers and 75 RBI over 141 games. He has got a great opportunity to be one of the big surprises in 2012 if he will improve his game against lefties. (He has merely a .196 lifetime average against lefties.)
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