Liam Hicks Is The Tampa Bay Rays’ 10th Catcher In Three Seasons

Aug 04, 2026 06:59 AM - 2 hours ago 1

Of each the catchers the Rays person traded for successful caller years, Liam Hicks stands retired because he is simply a clear upgrade. True, the 27-year-old Toronto autochthonal has kicked astir since he was drafted by the Rangers successful the ninth information of the 2021 draught retired of Arkansas State. True, he joins Tampa Bay aft hitting only 1 homer and 3 extra-base hits successful his last 28 games – though he batted .292 – pinch Miami since being activated from the injured list, which he was placed connected owed to little backmost strain successful June.

Tampa Bay is Hicks’ 4th statement successful six seasons of master baseball. The lefthanded hitter whitethorn enactment put for a while. Breaking done offensively the measurement he has this play -- .282, 14 homers and 62 RBI -- mixed pinch squad power done 2030 are reasons why Rays’ fans should consciousness good. Maybe a sigh of alleviation is successful bid arsenic good fixed really the position has chronically underperformed. A larger sigh will beryllium successful bid erstwhile Hicks rediscovers his powerfulness changeable again.

In acquiring Hicks, who is making $790,000 this season, the Rays sent 3 prospects to Miami: 24-year-old infielder Brayden Taylor (Rays’ No. 16), 23-year-old RHP Jacob Kisting (No. 26) and 21-year-old shortstop Adrian Santana (No. 27). It marked the 2nd consecutive time up of the waste and acquisition deadline that Tampa Bay acquired a subordinate for a trio of prospects, neither of whom was classed higher than No. 15 successful their system. The Rays acquired Freddy Peralta from the Mets connected Sunday afternoon.

Hicks, who has struck retired only 39 times successful 354 at-bats and is joining a squad that has fanned the fewest times successful MLB, replaces Hunter Feduccia (dealt to the Dodgers) arsenic the lefty successful the catching platoon pinch Nick Fortes. He could besides spell Jonathan Aranda astatine first guidelines and springiness DH Yandy Diaz a break from clip to time. Hicks became expendable because Joe Mack, who besides hits from the near broadside and is 4 years younger, has emerged down the sheet for Clayton McCullough’s team.

The Rays person not had overmuch offense, and surely small power, beyond Diaz, Aranda and 3rd baseman Junior Caminero. Center fielder Cedric Mullins has 13 homers, but is hitting .201 while outfielder/infielder Ryan Vilade has been productive (9 HR, .790 OPS) successful a platoon role. That’s astir it successful position of powerfulness threats and Mullins has intelligibly been connected the downside the past mates of years.

Here are the different catches the Rays person utilized the past 3 seasons.

Rob Brantly

Brantly went 1-for-9 successful 3 games pinch the Rays successful 2024, his first MLB action successful 2 years. The squad signed him to a insignificant convention woody and he spent the bulk of the play pinch Triple-A Durham. Brantly played successful 3 games pinch the Marlins successful 2025 and the 37-year-old has not played professionally this season.

Logan Driscoll

Acquired from the Padres on pinch Manuel Margot successful speech for Emilio Pagan anterior to 2020 outpouring training, Driscoll made his MLB debut pinch Tampa Bay successful September 2024 and went 6-for-35 (.171) successful 15 games. He missed the 2025 play owed to wounded and is hitting .266 this play pinch the Rays’ Triple-A connection successful Durham.

Hunter Feduccia

Feduccia was acquired by the Rays astatine past year’s waste and acquisition deadline successful speech for 3 players, including catcher Ben Rortvedt (below). The lefthanded hitter platooned pinch Nick Fortes (immediately below) and deed .203 successful his clip pinch Tampa Bay. He was sent backmost to the Dodgers astatine this year’s deadline for erstwhile Pirates outfielder Jack Suwinski.

Nick Fortes

Acquired 2 days earlier Feduccia up of past season’s deadline, the Miami autochthonal was acquired from the Marlins successful speech for a insignificant convention outfielder. Fortes is successful the midst of the champion agelong of his MLB career, hitting .377 (17-for-45) successful his past 15 games. He is simply a profession .234 hitter.

Alex Jackson

Acquired from Milwaukee astatine the 2023 waste and acquisition deadline, Jackson batted a microscopic .122 successful 58 games (139 ABs) pinch 3 homers successful a Tampa Bay uniform. The sixth wide prime of the Mariners successful 2014, Jackson has since played pinch the Orioles and Twins, for which he is hitting .308 this play (65 ABs) done August 2.

Danny Jansen

Jansen signed pinch the Rays for one-year and $8.5 cardinal successful December 2024 and deed .204 pinch 11 homers successful 73 games earlier was dealt to the Brewers astatine past year’s deadline. Jansen is hitting .171 pinch the Rangers this season.

Rene Pinto

Pinto was the longest-tenured subordinate successful the Rays’ statement earlier he was waived pursuing the 2024 season. The Venezuelan was signed astatine property 16 by Tampa Bay successful 2013, made his MLB debut successful 2022 and deed .231 pinch 10 homers successful 82 games complete parts of 3 seasons. Pinto has not since played successful the awesome and was released by the Phillies’ Triple-A connection successful July.

Ben Rortvedt

The left-handed hitter was acquired the time earlier the 2024 play opener and took a .340 mean into May. He was astatine .270 pinch a .733 OPS astatine the season’s halfway constituent earlier the wheels fell off. He batted .140 the long of his tenure pinch the club, including the first 2 months of 2025 earlier he was designated for assignment. He went to Triple-A Durham and was portion of the 2025 Feduccia woody pinch the Dodgers, pinch whom he has a World Series ring.

Matt Thaiss

Acquired by the Rays from the White Sox aft Rortvedt was designated for duty past season, Thaiss deed .212 successful 25 games pinch Tampa Bay earlier he was DFA’d. He has not reappeared successful the fields and is presently successful the Astros’ system.