Mexican Jonathan Aranda will miss part of the beginning of the 2024 season with the Tampa Bay Rays after suffering a fracture in one of his fingers.
The Tijuana slugger was having a great Spring Training and showing that he could earn a spot in the Rays lineup.
Aranda suffered a broken right ring finger last Tuesday while trying to catch a ground ball in practice with the Rays.
The fracture will keep Aranda out of the game for a month or a month and a half, the team indicated, causing a regrettable loss for the club, as stated by manager Kevin Cash.
“You feel sorry for the boy. He has done everything possible to come here and give a good performance, to have some success and get good results, which is what we really wanted him to feel,” Cash said when speaking to the press this Thursday.
During spring training, Aranda had a .371 batting average, 13 hits in 35 at-bats, 1 home run, 7 runs batted in, .571 slugging percentage and .992 OPS.
Aranda, who in the last two minor league seasons hit .328 with 43 home runs and 166 RBIs in 199 games, arrived at training camp with the challenge of showing progress in his offense.
Last year Aranda played 34 games in the Major Leagues, with a .230 batting average, with two home runs, 13 runs scored and 13 RBIs in 87 at-bats.
“We believe in him. But sometimes, as a player, to continue believing in yourself, you need results. And he did it. He was our best hitter all camp. Then we’ll get it back. It’s just unfortunate that it happened,” Cash said.
The Rays planned to use Aranda primarily at second base and at first, to give Cuban Yandy Díaz time to rest.
The Tampa Bay team this year will have to fight in one of the most difficult divisions in the Major Leagues against the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Toronto Blue Jays.
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