Nick

Fortes

The 27-year-old Hicks, who won’t be a free agent until after 2030, is probably overachieving some at .282/.363/.432 as a sophomore this year, but he’ll still provide a nice lift over the Rays’ catching duo of Hunter Feduccia and Nick Fortes. Since Hicks and Feduccia are lefty hitters and Fortes is a righty, it’s Feduccia who would seem to be in line for a demotion. No official word yet on whether the Marlins will promote Agustín Ramírez. They already had Brian Navarette up as a third catcher with Hicks often DHing, so they could pick someone else if they don’t see Ramírez getting enough playing time as a DH and backup to Joe Mack.

Fortes and the Rays poured it on against the Guardians here with 11 runs, their second double-digit outburst this week. They only managed two home runs on their way to such a crooked number and as a team went 6-for-16 with runners in scoring position. Fortes was responsible for two of those knocks and was never retired. He’s put up a strong .281 batting average on the season while splitting reps at catcher.

Fortes couldn’t quite muster a homer, with 406- and 399-foot flies both going for doubles, but it was still quite a day. It’s the second time in 454 major league games that he’s managed four hits and the seventh time that he’s scored three runs. He had seven hits in all in the series against Boston, raising his OPS from .585 to .664.

Fortes is hitting .304/.360/.565 this spring, compared to .087/.222/.261 for Hunter Feduccia. It bodes well for Fortes being the Rays’ primary catcher to begin the year, even though Feduccia’s left-handedness would set up a natural platoon. Feduccia just hasn’t hit at all since being acquired from the Dodgers at the deadline last year.

Fortes was acquired from the Marlins at the trade deadline and hit .229/.296/.349 in 242 plate appearances last season, split between the Marlins and Rays. He figures to serve as the Rays’ starting catcher in 2026.

This trade was reported yesterday and is now official. Fortes is hitting .240/.288/.349 in 141 plate appearances for the Marlins this season with a 4.5 percent barrel rate and 87.3 mph average exit velocity. However, he has a 58 percent pull rate, and we know how Tampa Bay loves players that pull and lift the ball. Additionally, this move will be an upgrade for Rays’ pitchers since Fortes is tied for 13th in baseball in Catcher Framing Runs Saved with 2. Danny Jansen, who Fortes is replacing, was dead last in baseball with -8 Catcher Framing Runs Saved.

The deal should be official at some point shortly. The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal adds that the Rays are also on the verge of swinging an additional trade with the Marlins for veteran backstop Nick Fortes. He’ll split the catching duties in Tampa Bay with Matt Thaiss over the final two months. Meanwhile, Jansen provides Milwaukee with a reliable lefty-mashing option at catcher, allowing them to move William Contreras to DH with greater frequency down the home stretch.

Ramírez takes a seat with Nick Fortes handling the catching duties after starting 12 consecutive games between catcher and DH since June 9. The 23-year-old rookie backstop has held his own in his first exposure to the big leagues, hitting .234/.285/.449 with 11 homers, 27 RBI and one steal in 221 plate appearances over 51 games.

The 28-year-old backstop briefly gave the Marlins the lead in this one when he plated Dane Myers with an infield single off of Cristopher Sanchez in the fifth inning. That would be the only run that Miami could muster in the contest though. Fortes hasn’t been very productive at the plate this season, hitting just .244/.296/.367 with two home runs and nine RBI in his first 99 plate appearances.

Ramírez takes a seat after starting nine consecutive games for Miami between catcher and DH since May 6. The 23-year-old rookie backstop has gotten off to a nice start in his first opportunity at the highest level, batting
.264/.322/.575 with five homers, 11 RBI and one steal through 21 games. It’ll be veteran Nick Fortes handling the catching duties on Saturday evening with Liam Hicks getting a turn at DH.