Wendle Gets First Start In Left Saturday
The Tampa Bay Rays are going to increase the versatility of both Joey Wendle and Daniel Robertson by getting them familiar with left field.
Joey Wendle gets his first start in left on Saturday afternoon against the Yankees. Prior to the game he said that he has been working with Kevin Kiermaier and Rocco Baldelli and taking reps out there.
He said he was somewhat concerned that tracking the ball in the dome would be different in the outfield than when he’s in the infield. He said Kiermaier told him, “It’s never easy to field a dirty white ball on a dirty white roof.” Wendle by his own admission has never played outfield as a professional and can only recall maybe two occasions where he may have played in emergency situations when he was 13 year old.
Wendle won’t be the only Rays’ infielder tasked with playing the outfield. Daniel Robertson may be nearing his first start out there in the coming days. “We want to make sure Robbie [Daniel Robertson] is feeling good, which he is, before we put that on him.” Manager Kevin Cash said. “Just given the hamstring issue and running around.”
