Rays Announce Numerous Roster Moves on Monday
The Tampa Bay Rays on Monday evening announced several transactions affecting members of the 2023 Durham Bulls roster. Pitchers Josh Fleming and Jalen Beeks were claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies, respectively. Catcher Blake Hunt and right-hander Michael Mercado, meanwhile, were acquired in trades by the
The Tampa Bay Rays on Monday evening announced several transactions affecting members of the 2023 Durham Bulls roster. Pitchers Josh Fleming and Jalen Beeks were claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies and Colorado Rockies, respectively. Catcher Blake Hunt and right-hander Michael Mercado, meanwhile, were acquired in trades by the Seattle Mariners and Phillies, respectively. In addition, infielder Tristan Gray, outfielder Raimel Tapia and Cole Sulser were outrighted from Tampa Bay's 40-man roster and have become free agents.
Gray in 331 career contests with the Bulls over the last three seasons combined for a .233 average (274-1174), adding 179 runs, 59 doubles, five triples, 71 homers and 220 RBI along with a .774 OPS. He was part of Durham's Triple-A National championship-winning seasons in 2021 and 2022, which included a key three-run home run in the ninth inning of the 2022 Triple-A National Championship Game in Las Vegas. In 132 games this past season he hit .235 (110-468) with 71 runs, 25 doubles, one triple, 30 homers and 98 RBI. His 71 home runs in a Bulls uniform are second-most by a Bulls player in franchise history behind only Chris Richard.
Tapia, meanwhile, participated in 29 games with Durham during the 2023 campaign, posting a .269 average (28-104), adding 19 runs, three doubles, four homers and 11 RBI in addition to a .784 OPS. Sulser accumulated a 2-0 record and 3.86 ERA (18.2 IP) across 12 appearances in his second stint with the Bulls after previously pitching in 49 games with Durham during the 2019 campaign, tallying a 6-3 mark and 3.27 ERA (66.0 IP).
Fleming during parts of four seasons with the Bulls from 2019-23 combined for a 12-6 record and 3.55 ERA (126.2 IP) in 40 appearances, including 17 starts, adding 89 strikeouts. In four postseason outings (two starts) for Durham he accrued a 2-1 clip and 3.38 ERA (16.0 IP) with 13 punchouts. Beeks pitched with the Bulls during portions of the 2019 and 2023 campaigns, combining for a 2-2 record and 3.96 ERA (36.1 IP) with 37 strikeouts over his 23 outings (four starts).
Hunt played in 30 games for Durham over the course of the 2023 season, batting .263 (30-114) along with 18 runs, 11 doubles, six homers and 23 RBI in addition to an .835 OPS before missing the rest of the year due to injury. His most memorable game came on June 18, smashing three home runs while driving in six RBI at Durham Bulls Athletic Park against Charlotte. In exchange for Hunt, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired minor league catcher Tatem Levins. Mercado in 28 appearances (two starts) with the Bulls in 2023 accumulated a 2-2 record and 4.99 ERA (39.2 IP) with 56 strikeouts.
In addition to these moves, the Tampa Bay Rays reinstated seven players from the 60-day Injured List and selected right-hander Manuel Rodriguez to the 40-man roster. The Rays' 40-man roster now stands at 39 players.
USA Baseball & Durham Bulls Set to Host All-American Women's Baseball Classic
USA Baseball and the Durham Bulls are set to host the All-American Women’s Baseball Classic from August 1-3 at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park (DBAP) in Durham, North Carolina, in conjunction with the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) and American Girls Baseball (AGB). The Classic will be an identification
Murray, Bulls Batter Memphis In Rain-Shortened 11-8 Win
Tanner Murray paced an 18-hit attack by going 4-for-5 as the Durham Bulls claimed a rain-abridged, seven inning 11-8 win over the Memphis Redbirds on Thursday night at the DBAP. Murray had three singles and a double, while Jamie Westbrook was 3-4 with a homer, Coco Montes went 3-4 and
Memphis Tops Durham 7-2
Michael Siani homered to lead off the game to lead the Memphis Redbirds past the Durham Bulls 7-2 at the DBAP on Wednesday night. The Bulls (30-23), who dropped their fifth of their last six games, were handcuffed by Memphis (29-22) starter Michael McGreevy (W, 6-1) most of the night.
Redbirds Best Bulls 6-1
Luken Baker homered twice and drove in four to lead the Memphis Redbirds past the Durham Bulls 6-1 on Memorial Day at the DBAP. Baker drilled a three-run homer against Durham reliever Antonio Menendez (L, 1-1) in the third. Baker hit his second of the game in the ninth against
Worcester Defeats Durham 3-1
The Worcester Red Sox scored three times in the second inning en route to defeating the Durham Bulls 3-1 at Polar Park in the series finale Sunday afternoon. The WooSox (25-25) strung three consecutive one-out singles against Joe Rock (L, 1-4) to load the bases before a sac fly from
Bulls Split Twinbill With Red Sox
Durham hit three homers in the nightcap to salvage a doubleheader split with Worcester on Saturday night, winning 7-3 after dropping the opener 2-1 at Polar Park. Brock Jones, Andrew Stevenson and Bob Seymour each homered in game two as the Bulls (30-20) overcame an early 1-0 deficit to pick
Red Sox Top Bulls 5-4, Game 2 of Twinbill Postponed
Vaughn Grisson singled home the winning run with two outs in the seventh inning to lift the Worcester Red Sox past the Durham Bulls 5-4 in game one of Friday's doubleheader at Polar Park. The second game was subsequently postponed due to rain. The Bulls (29-19) led 4-3 with two
Williams, Westbrook Blast Bulls Past Red Sox 7-4 In Ten
Jamie Westbrook hit a game-tying home run in the ninth, then Carson Williams drilled a three-run shot in the 10th to lift the Durham Bulls past the Worcester Red Sox 7-4 at Polar Park on Wednesday night. The Bulls (29-18) were trailing 4-3 in the ninth when the former WooSox
Red Sox Best Bulls 8-2
Brian Van Belle threw seven solid innings to lift the Worcester Red Sox past the Durham Bulls 8-2 in the series opener on Tuesday night at Polar Park. Van Belle (W, 2-1) permitted just one run on four hits to pick up his second win of the season. Joe Boyle
Joe Boyle Named IL Pitcher of the Week For Second Time in 2025
Minor League Baseball on Monday announced their weekly Player and Pitcher of the Week honors for the time frame between May 12-18, with right-hander Joe Boyle being named the International League's Pitcher of the Week for the second time this season. Boyle fired 5.0 scoreless frames of one-hit ball to
Rochester Defeats Durham 7-5 In Series Finale
The Rochester Red Wings scored five unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth to take the final game of the series, 7-5 over the Durham Bulls on Sunday afternoon from Innovative Field. Up 3-0 in the fifth, the Red Wings (12-31) loaded the bases with none out against Bulls
Bulls Stun Red Wings With 7-Run 9th Inning
For the third time this season, the Durham Bulls rallied from a final inning deficit with two out and two strikes, this time scoring seven times to storm past the Rochester Red Wings 9-3 at Innovative Field on Saturday night. Down 3-2 and facing the game's final strike, former Red
Bulls Win Third Straight With 6-2 Victory In Rochester
Tre Morgan reached five times, scoring a career-high four times, leading Durham to its third straight win, defeating the Rochester Red Wings 6-2 on Thursday night at Innovative Field. Morgan walked three times and collected a pair of singles to keep the Bulls (27-15) in second place in the IL.
Lowe's Longball Lifts Bulls to 7-4 Win
A four-run first inning propelled the Durham Bulls past the Rochester Red Wings 7-4 at Innovative Field on Wednesday night. The Bulls (26-15) won their second straight game to open a 12-game road trip over the last place Red Wings (10-29). Durham moved into sole possession of second place, three
Jimenez's Four Hits Lead Bulls To 3-1 Extra-Inning Win Over Red Wings
The Durham Bulls scored twice in the top of the 10th to win the first game of a 12-game road trip, defeating the Rochester Red Wings 3-1 on Tuesday night at Innovative Field. The game between the second place Bulls (25-15) and last place Red Wings (10-28) was scoreless until
Gwinnett Defeats Durham 4-1
Eddys Leonard homered twice to lead the Gwinnett Stripers to a 4-1 win over the Durham Bulls on Sunday afternoon at the DBAP. The game was delayed three hours and 54 minutes before the opening pitch due to rain. When it began, the starting pitchers dominated as has been the
Bulls Walk Off With 4-3 Extra-Inning Win Over Stripers
Eloy Jimenez singled home the winning run off of nine-time all-star Craig Kimbrel to lead the Durham Bulls past the Gwinnett Stripers 4-3 in front of 8,394 fans at the DBAP on Saturday night. The Bulls (24-14) were shutout into the sixth when Bob Seymour drove a game-tying two-out double
Stripers Thwart Late Bulls Rally With 3-2 Win
Garrett Cooper singled in a pair of two-out runs while the Gwinnett Stripers survived a bizarre game-ending play to defeat the Durham Bulls 3-2 at the DBAP on Friday night. Trailing 3-1 in the ninth, the Bulls (23-14) loaded the bases with one out thanks to three walks and scored
Gwinnett Slips By Durham 3-2
Eddys Leonard drilled a two-run homer in the sixth to lead the Gwinnett Stripers past the Durham Bulls 3-2 at the DBAP on Thursday night. Kenny Piper had just given the Bulls (23-13) a 2-1 lead in the fifth, taking out Gwinnett (15-21) starter Hurston Waldrep (W, 3-2). But Luke
Stripers Snap Bulls' Win Streak With 6-5 Triumph
Eddys Leonard broke a ninth inning tie with a sacrifice fly to snap Durham's eight-game winning streak, leading Gwinnett to a 6-5 win at the DBAP on Wednesday night. The Stripers (14-21) loaded the bases against Garrett Acton (L, 2-1) on two singles and a walk before Leonard drove a
Bulls Walk Off With 8th Straight Victory, 6-5
With a seven-game winning streak down to its final strike, the Durham Bulls scored twice with two outs in the ninth, then won the game in the 10th, defeating the Gwinnett Stripers 6-5 on Tuesday afternoon at the DBAP. The game-tying rally started with a leadoff double from Carson Williams.
Seymour, Bulls Sweep 'Shrimp With 11-2 Win
Bob Seymour homered twice to lead the Durham Bulls to a six-game sweep over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 11-2 on Sunday afternoon at the DBAP. Seymour, who homered five times in 26 at-bats during the series, tied the game 2-2 in the third on a solo shot to right, then
Westbrook's Late-Inning Heroics Lead Durham To Sixth Straight Win
Jamie Westbrook drilled a three-run homer for the second straight night, lifting the Durham Bulls past the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp 6-4 before a paid attendance of 9,098 at the DBAP on Saturday night. The Bulls won their sixth straight game, and moved into a second place tie with Jacksonville, just
Nine-Run Fourth Propels Bulls To 11-0 Battering of Shrimp
A nine-run fourth inning catapulted the Durham Bulls to a fifth straight win, 11-0 over the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp on Friday night before a paid attendance of 8,928 at the DBAP. As part of Durham's (20-11) nine run inning, the Bulls sent 12 hitters to the plate. Tanner Murray singled