Taylor

Walls

Walls, who will be eligible for free agency for the first time after 2027, made $1.4 million last season in his first year of arbitration and wound up hitting .220/.280/.319 in 317 plate appearances. The Rays will probably treat him as a utilityman next season, though he’ll provide protection if Carson Williams needs some additional minor league time.

The Rays love Walls, so it’s not a lock that Williams will get the best of him, even though Williams is one of the team’s top prospects. The 22-year-old hit just .172/.219/.354 with a 41.5 percent strikeout rate in 32 games with Tampa Bay at the end of the season. He’ll need to show much more than that before the Rays turn their back on Walls.

The procedural move ends Walls’ season. The 29-year-old hit the injured list back in mid-August with a left groin strain. Top prospect Carson Williams takes over as Tampa Bay’s starting shortstop for the foreseeable future.

Walls was scratched from the team’s starting lineup on Saturday due to the groin issue and hasn’t played since. The Rays will play it safe and sit him down for a couple of weeks to ensure that the injury heals properly. Tristan Peters was recalled from Triple-A Durham to take his place on the active roster.

Walls will sit out his second straight contest after being scratched from Saturday’s lineup with a left groin injury. He’s presumably day-to-day for now since he hasn’t been placed on the injured list. It’ll be Ha-Seong Kim taking over at shortstop in his place.

Walls apparently played through the groin injury Friday, but the soreness will cause him to miss at least Saturday’s game. Rays manager Kevin Cash suggested that Walls could be available off the bench, so this isn’t likely a long-term absence.

Walls was set to play second base against Seattle, but that will now be handled by Tristan Gray. A reason for why Gray is out should be available shortly.

Walls chased Brady Singer from the game with a 401-foot shot in the eighth inning that left the bat at 101.2 mph. It was Walls’ fourth of the season. The 29-year-old figures to play almost every day with Ha-Seong Kim (back) landing on the IL. He just doesn’t bring enough to the table to be rostered in fantasy leagues.

Kim will miss his third straight game after leaving Monday’s game with tightness in his lower back. The 29-year-old will recover with Taylor Walls playing shortstop and hitting eighth. Consider Kim day-to-day for now.

Kim will sit out his second straight contest after exiting Monday’s series opener with lower back tightness. The 29-year-old middle infielder has dealt with three separate physical issues since making his season debut back on July 3. He’s managed to avoid a return to the injured list so far. There’s a chance he’s ready for Friday’s series opener in Cincinnati. It’ll be Taylor Walls filling in at shortstop once again on Wednesday evening.