Hanigan's efficient run production impressing Rays

SEATTLE -- Ryan Hanigan drove in four of the Rays' runs in Monday night's 12-5 loss to the Mariners.

The Rays catcher did so with a two-out, bases-loaded double off Felix Hernandez in the seventh and an RBI single in the ninth.

Entering Tuesday night's action, he had 22 RBIs in just 90 at-bats to lead all American League players with a 4.09 at-bats per RBI average. He's third in the Major Leagues in the category behind Miami's Giancarlo Stanton (3.57) and Colorado's Troy Tulowitzki (3.76).

When Joe Maddon was asked about Hanigan being tied with James Loney for the team lead in RBIs, the Rays manager noted: "I didn't even know that."

"I didn't even realize that because he's not even playing every day," Maddon said. "I'm so not into, like, typical stats. I'm locked into our stuff. I swear I didn't even know that."

Maddon asked media members how many RBIs Hanigan has and when told, he smiled: "Really? That's outstanding."

Thus far, Hanigan has played well for the Rays. Maddon was asked if the veteran catcher has exceeded expectations.

"Turn back the clock, Rays vs. Cincinnati a couple of years ago, whatever year that was at our place," Maddon said. "He played really well against us. And that's my only visual of him other than seeing him on TV and replays once in a while.

"I really liked the way he caught and threw and blocked, his energy and all that stuff. I thought it was obvious then. And I know [general manager] Andrew [Friedman] and I have been talking about it ever since then."

Maddon summed his remarks by allowing that he "expected good" from Hanigan.

"I expected all the things you're seeing catching wise," Maddon said. "And hitting wise, he had a bad wrist last year. So a lot of what you're seeing right now is not hugely surprising."