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Rays Arizona Fall League updates

September 29, 2019

Three former Princeton Rays prospects are playing for the Salt River Rafters in the 2019 Arizona Fall League: right-hander Shane Baz (Bristol 2018; Princeton 2018) (No. 6, MLB No. 95), catcher Ronaldo Hernandez (Princeton 2017) (No. 7), outfielder Josh Lowe (Princeton 2016) (No. 11). 

Three former Princeton Rays prospects are playing for the Salt River Rafters in the 2019 Arizona Fall League: right-hander Shane Baz (Bristol 2018; Princeton 2018) (No. 6, MLB No. 95), catcher Ronaldo Hernandez (Princeton 2017) (No. 7), outfielder Josh Lowe (Princeton 2016) (No. 11). 

Here's a day-by-day look at how Tampa Bay's AFL contingent is faring:
Sept. 28:Salt River 10, Mesa 3
Catcher Ronaldo Hernandez smacked an RBI double in a 1-for-4 day for the Rafters.
Sept. 27:Salt River 6, Mesa 1
Shane Baz put his electric stuff on display in 1 1/3 innings of relief for Salt River. He hit 99 mph on the radar gun in his first at-bat, which ended as one of his three strikeouts, but he ended his night with consecutive walks. The 20-year-old, whom the Rays acquired from the Pirates in the Chris Archer deal, is up to nine strikeouts in five AFL frames.
Sept. 24: Glendale 5, Salt River 4
Josh Lowe  recorded an multihit effort (2-for-4), which included a RBI double in the eighth inning.
Sept. 25: Salt River 8, Glendale 4, postponed due to lightning
Josh Lowe, the Rays' No. 11 prospect, was one of three Salt River Rafters players to collect multiple hits, going 2-for-3 with a double and two runs scored before the game was postponed. Ronaldo Hernandez (No. 7) was held hitless, but reached on an error in the fourth inning.
Sept. 22:Salt River 11, Scottsdale 4
Josh Lowe put together a strong night at the plate and led all batters in the game with three hits. The 21-year-old, a first-round pick from the 2016 Draft, not only tripled, but he collected a pair of singled and also reached once via an error. Lowe finished the night 3-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs, and he's now batting .294.
Shane Baz was roughed up in his Fall League debut (six runs in 1 2/3 innings) but was dominant on Sunday night. Baz, whom the Rays acquired via a trade from the Pirates, walked the first batter he faced, but then struck out five in a row -- all via fastballs, including one at 99.1 mph -- and picked a guy off to complete two innings. The 20-year-old, a first-round pick from the 2017 Draft (Pirates), spent the entire season with Class A Bowling Green and pitched to a 2.99 ERA with 87 strikeouts over 87 1/3 innings (17 starts).
Sept. 21:Surprise 12, Salt River 0
Josh Lowe went 0-for-3 at the plate. Ronaldo Hernandez went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts.
Sept. 19:Salt River 4, Mesa 1
Josh Lowe entered the game as a defensive replacement in the sixth inning and would get a chance to bat, driving a soft liner into left for a single.
Sept. 18:Peoria 10, Salt River 6
Ronaldo Hernandez hit right in front of Brujan and went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk. Josh Lowe started in center field and hit second. He went 0-for-4, though he did draw a walk and score a run. Shane Baz struggled when he came into the game as a reliever, though he was lighting up the radar gun close to triple digits at times. The right-hander gave up six runs, all earned, on five hits and two walks in 1 2/3 innings.