Mead is starting at second base and batting fifth in Tuesday's Game 1 of the AL Wild Card Series versus the Rangers.
Mead didn't even seem to be a given to be included on the roster, so the fact that he's starting Game 1 and batting fifth has to be a nice boost to the rookie's confidence. He and his teammates will be squaring off against left-hander Jordan Montgomery.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Pops first homer
Rotowire
Mead went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 6-2 loss against the Blue Jays.
Mead hit his first career home run in the seventh inning with a 337-foot liner off Chris Bassitt. The 22-year-old rookie has struggled to see much playing time during the Rays' playoff push, as he's received only five starts and 21 plate appearances since being recalled Sept. 12. Mead is slashing .281/.359/.421 in 64 big-league plate appearances.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
Mead was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
He's taking the roster spot of the injured Jose Siri (hand). Mead will provide some infield protection with Isaac Paredes (hand) banged up, although Paredes' return to the lineup is seemingly imminent.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Breaks through with three hits
Rotowire
Mead went 3-for-5 and scored twice in Monday's 10-2 win against San Francisco.
All three of Mead's hits went for a single, but it was nonetheless a positive performance after he went just 2-for-16 with seven strikeouts over his first six MLB games. The rookie infielder has posted a .302 batting average over 1,048 career minor-league at-bats, so chances are that it's only a matter of time before he starts hitting in the majors. Monday's effort was a step in that direction, though Mead has yet to pick up his first extra-base hit or RBI, and his playing time hasn't been consistent enough to make him a must-roster player in most redraft fantasy formats.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Collects first major-league hit
Rotowire
Mead made his big-league debut in Friday's 8-0 win over the Tigers. He singled in his lone at-bat.
Recalled earlier in the day, Mead entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning -- perhaps not a dream scenario for a debut, but he now has his first hit out of the way and won't have that pressure on him when he makes his first career start. One of the top prospects in the Rays organization, Mead slashed .291/.379/.453 with three homers and three steals in 46 games for Triple-A Durham this season.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Returns with big weekend
Rotowire
Mead (wrist) was reinstated from Triple-A Durham's 7-day injured list Thursday and went 5-for-9 with two doubles, one triple, two walks, four runs and two RBI in his first two games back with the affiliate.
Mead ended up missing two months with the wrist injury, which he suffered when he was hit by a pitch April 29. The prolonged absence likely means that Mead's big-league debut isn't imminent, though the 22-year-old didn't help his case for a promotion by posting a modest .646 OPS in 22 games prior to being shelved with the injury. The fact that Mead has turned in a pair of strong hitting performances since being activated is at least a promising early sign that his power hasn't been compromised by the recent wrist injury.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Begins rehab assignment
Rotowire
Mead (wrist) will begin a rehab assignment in the Florida Complex League on Thursday, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.
One of the top hitters in the minors, Mead has not played since April 29 due to a wrist injury after getting hit by a pitch. Given the length of his absence, there may have been a broken bone in his hand/wrist. While Mead could still make his big-league debut this summer, he hadn't gotten off to a great start with Triple-A Durham prior to the injury, slashing .221/.286/.360 with two home runs in 22 games.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Out with wrist injury
Rotowire
Mead is on the 7-day injured list with Triple-A Durham after getting hit on the wrist by a pitch April 29 and he could miss four weeks, according to Bulls play-by-play voice Patrick Kinas.
If he misses four weeks, that would have him returning around Memorial Day weekend. It's been a disappointing start to the season for Mead, as he was hitting .221 with two home runs and a 22:9 K:BB in 22 games prior to suffering the injury.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Optioned to minor-league camp
Rotowire
Mead was optioned Monday to minor-league camp by the Rays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
There was some thought that Mead could make the Rays' Opening Day roster, but instead the top prospect in the system is poised to begin the season at Triple-A Durham. The 22-year-old Australian posted a .918 OPS in his 22 plate appearances in the Grapefruit League this spring and should be one of the first bats called up by Tampa Bay whenever the club is looking for additional offense.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Candidate for long-term extension
Rotowire
Mead and the Rays have explored a long-term contract extension this spring, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Mead, a 22-year-old native of Australia, has delivered a sparkling .306/.376/.517 career batting line through 970 minor-league plate appearances. He posted a .922 OPS with 13 home runs and 27 doubles in 76 games last summer between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham. Even if the extension talks ultimately fail, the young infielder should rise to the major-league level with Tampa Bay in 2023. Most of his defensive experience has come at third base, though he's also played some shortstop, second base and first base.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Shut down for season
Rotowire
Mead has been shut down for the remainder of the season due to a forearm/elbow injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mead missed nearly a month between July and August due to a right elbow strain. While he apparently isn't dealing with any further damage, he received an injection to help his recovery process and won't rush back to the field prior to the end of the minor-league season. The 21-year-old appeared in 76 games between the Double-A and Triple-A clubs this year and slashed .298/.390/.532 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, 43 runs and seven stolen bases.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Placed on injured list
Rotowire
Mead was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Durham on Wednesday due to a right elbow strain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Mead hasn't appeared in a game since July 23, and he's apparently dealing with an elbow issue that's expected to keep him sidelined until at least mid-August. The 21-year-old has appeared in 72 games between the Double-A and Triple-A levels this year and has slashed .293/.387/.534 with 13 home runs, 50 RBI, 42 runs and seven stolen bases.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: Missing in action
Rotowire
Mead left a game for Triple-A Durham on July 23 with an undisclosed injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He has not been placed on the injured list, so perhaps it is a day-to-day issue. Mead, one of the best hitters in all the minors, is slashing .293/.387/.534 with 13 home runs, a 17.9 K% and a 10.9 BB% in 72 games as a 21-year-old at Double-A and Triple-A.
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Rays' Curtis Mead: On COVID IL
Rotowire
Mead is on the COVID-19 injured list at Double-A Montgomery, Sam Dykstra of MiLB.com reports.
Fortunately it shouldn't be a long absence for Mead, who last played May 15. He is hitting .291/.392/.518 with four home runs and a 13.8 K% in 130 plate appearances.
