PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Logan Morrison played in the field for the first time this spring on Sunday when the Rays played host to the Blue Jays at Charlotte Sports Park. Tampa Bay won the game, 8-2.
Morrison re-signed with the Rays in February. He played for the Rays in 2016, appearing in 107 games, including a team-high 78 starts at first base. His season was cut short by two injuries: a right forearm stain that put him on the disabled list for 16 games and a left wrist strain that sidelined him for the final 20 games of the season and prompted offseason surgery.
Entering Sunday's game, Morrison had only been used as a DH in Spring Training because of the soreness he'd experienced while throwing, but not hitting.
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"Everything was good with the wrist," said Morrison after playing five innings Sunday. "The legs are a little tired, but other than that, I'm good.
"Is [the wrist] 100 percent? No," he said. "But it's something that's gradually getting better. You just have to manage it."
The veteran slugger said he still "feels" pain on "certain throws," but added: "It's much better than it was. I don't know if it gets irritated, and it's like a scab you're picking or not. I think it's just something you have to do."
Ever confident, Morrison smiled when asked if he still was "All-State," as he referred to himself as a first baseman.
"That's right," Morrison said. "Still All-State, you're in good hands. Some kid told me at the Colombia game, the night game, he was out there with his Little League team and he said, 'I'm going to call you Pick City.' I'm like, 'Pick City?' He said, 'Yeah, because every time it comes over there, you pick it.' I like it."
Morrison hit in the leadoff spot on Sunday. The Rays have not yet decided on a leadoff hitter this season, as now-departed John Forsythe led off for much of the 2016 season. Corey Dickerson has also been used as a leadoff hitter. When asked if Rays manager Kevin Cash would decide on the leadoff spot by having Morrison race Dickerson, Morrison laughed.
"I don't think [Dickerson] wants that," Morrison said. "I don't want to hurt his feelings."