Rays prospect Yoniel Curet getting ‘a little bit closer to my dreams’
FORT MYERS — Yoniel Curet is experiencing a lot of firsts.
In November, the 21-year-old right-hander was added to the Rays’ 40-man roster, a bit of a surprise even though he hadn’t pitched above the Class A level, and thus included in big-league spring camp.
Sunday, he pitched in his first major-league exhibition, working a scoreless inning in a 4-4 tie with the Twins while walking one.
Next weekend, he is expected to start one of the Rays’ exhibitions against the Red Sox in his native Dominican Republic, providing family members their first chance to see him in a big-league uniform.
“This makes me feel like I’m a little bit closer to my dreams,” Curet said Sunday, with team communications director Elvis Martinez translating.
Curet said he took being added to the 40-man roster as a reward for his hard work after signing in July 2019, and the unexpected chance to pitch in Santo Domingo in front of family and friends as an unexpected and thrilling opportunity.
As for Sunday, pitching the seventh inning of a tied game?
“It was good, a good experience,” he said. “Got out there, executed my pitches. Just keep playing hard and see what happens the rest of the spring.”
Curet’s fastball clocked at 94-95 mph, as he got Dylan Neuse to fly out, walked Jake Rucker (who stole second), got Danny De Andrade to ground out and Carson McCusker to fly out. Curet threw nine of his 18 pitches for strikes and said he wasn’t nervous.
“I was happy he just got the ball over the plate,” manager Kevin Cash said. “Very encouraged. He’s got a lot of power. Big kid. He’ll do good things for us. There’s some anxiety going on at that time, and I thought he handled it really, really well.”
Margot reunion
The Rays traded outfielder Manuel Margot to the Dodgers, figuring they wouldn’t see him until an August series in Los Angeles. But Margot was traded to the Twins last week and was at Hammond Stadium Sunday playing against and visiting with his former teammates.
Cash said it was good to see him.
“He meant so much to our team in the clubhouse and on the field,” Cash said. “A lot of the good stuff that we’ve done here getting into the postseason, he played such a big role in that. We certainly wish him well.”
Game details: Rays 4, Twins 4
No. 2/3 starter Zack Littell threw three innings, scattering four hits with a walk and a strikeout, with 30 of his 43 pitches strikes. “Obviously not as crisp as (Tuesday), but happy I threw a lot of strikes,” he said. “Definitely felt it got better as the game went on. But it’s that time of year — continuing to clean things up, working through some of this timing stuff. Overall happy with it.” … Cash was pleased with the overall work of non-roster right-hander Jacob Waguespack despite him giving up five hits and three runs in two innings. … The Rays (2-5-2) made two outs on the bases, with Jose Siri picked off first and Jonathan Aranda oversliding second. … Non-roster outfielder Ruben Cardenas had another hit and is now 6-for-14. … Curtis Mead made a nifty diving stop at second base.
Miscellany
Non-roster pitcher Burch Smith was scratched from a relief outing due to lat discomfort and will be further evaluated. … The wives and girlfriends of the Twins beat those of the Rays 10-4 on Sunday in their first softball game since 2020, with a $10,000 donation split between the Boys & Girls Clubs of Charlotte and Lee counties. … Rays players have their annual meeting Monday morning with players union chief Tony Clark and his staff. … The Rays will depart Friday for the Dominican Republic, where they play exhibitions Saturday and Sunday against the Red Sox.
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