What are Robertson's odds of everyday job?

Beat reporter Juan Toribio answers fans' questions in the latest Inbox

March 2nd, 2019

Do you think with a strong spring, Robertson can claim an everyday spot? -- @_roe_247 via Twitter

’s versatility is going to be a big part of what the Rays do this season. Because of his ability to play all over the field, it’s unlikely that the Rays lock him in to any particular position. So far this spring, Robertson has looked sharp at the plate, as he entered Saturday with a .600 batting average in 10 at-bats before going 1-for-3 in a split-squad loss to the Phillies.

You’ll see Robertson play a lot of games in 2019, but they’ll come all over the diamond.

Is it Choi’s job at 1b, or is it a legit competition with Lowe for opening day? -- @dealerLawless via Twitter

The Rays won’t commit to having just one starting first baseman this season. , and Brandon Lowe will handle the duties at first base depending on the matchups. All three have been solid at the bag during the spring, with Lowe recording 6 RBIs in Saturday's split-squad win over the Blue Jays. Tampa Bay will have a decision to make once Nate Lowe is ready to make his big league debut.

Where do you expect Jesus Sanchez to start the season? -- @fsutoby via Twitter

Jesus Sanchez is one of the young players who has impressed so far during the spring, both displaying his power and showing off his arm in right field.

The Rays’ No. 4 prospect according to MLB Pipeline hit .301 in 90 games with Class A Advanced Charlotte before being called up to Double-A Montgomery for the last 27 games of the season. He struggled after the callup, hitting .214 in 98 at-bats. Because of that, he will probably start the season with Montgomery, with a promotion to Triple-A Durham at some point in the season looking likely.

Do you expect the Rays to be in on Craig Kimbrel? -- @facksy11 via Twitter

No. It has been reported that Kimbrel and his camp will wait until they get the deal they’re seeking. The Rays are happy with the bullpen and the depth they have in their pitching staff. Not to mention that Kimbrel is way out of the Rays’ price range.

Who looks to be a contender for the rotation? -- @MLBRaysUp via Twitter

The Rays feel comfortable going into the season with just three starters, so there’s really no plan for anyone to step into the rotation. If someone establishes himself over the course of the season, the Rays will react accordingly, but there’s no rush to find another starter. , , , and are all options, but they’ll start the season in the bullpen and will likely enter games during the two scheduled bullpen days.

Does a “Light Tower Bauers” Spring Training put Nate Lowe on the path to the Majors with a May/June timeline? -- @Trifected

Regardless of what Lowe does during Spring Training -- he showed off his power when he crushed a 448-foot home run against the Red Sox on Wednesday -- the expectation is that he’ll make his big league debut at some point in 2019.

There’s no set timetable for his debut, but he’s making quite the impression during camp. May or June sounds like a reasonable timetable, but it’ll all depend on what’s happening with the big league club.