Jonny

Gomes

Gomes was chosen because he was batting .354 with seven homers and 11 walks in 14 games for Mesa of the Arizona Fall League.

He now has 11 in just 24 games at Class AAA. Gomes should return to the majors this season. It just might not be with the Devil Rays.

He also singled in four at-bats.

We know we shouldn’t complain when the important thing is that Gomes is playing. Still, what does the guy need to do? He has a 932 OPS in 184 AB and a 1085 OPS in 59 AB against lefties. And when Lou Piniella has actually batted him fourth, he’s amassed a 987 OPS in seven games. Damon Hollins tonight is hitting cleanup for the first time.

That’s 14 homers in just 184 at-bats. Unless Aubrey Huff is traded this winter, the Devil Rays will be packed at OF/1B/DH with Huff, Rocco Baldelli, Carl Crawford, Delmon Young, and Gomes. With Wes Bankston on the way and Joey Gathright hanging around, dealing Huff for a young pitcher would be quite useful.

The throw not only kept the game scoreless, it also ended the inning. The Devil Rays went on to win the game 1-0.

He also stole two bases, although the second could have been called indifference. Getting hit by pitches is one of Gomes’ overlooked skills. He won’t keep hitting for average like he to this point, but he’ll always have a fine OBP, something that will be valuable if the Rays eventually put a decent lineup on the field.

Gomes served as a hitting coach for one of the Diamondbacks’ rookie-league affiliates in 2018, after failing to draw interest as a player in 2017 following a rough 2016 season in Japan. The retired two-time World Series winner will now be a member of the major league coaching staff in Arizona.

Gomes is 5-for-77 since the All-Star break. The Rays are showing admirable patience with him, but it’s possible that his shoulder troubles won’t allow him to bounce back this season.

Carl Crawford also homered twice and Aubrey Huff and Julio Lugo added solo shots as the Rays tied their club record with six homers. The multihit game was Gomes’ first since May 30. His average stands at .266, which is probably about where he’ll finish the year.