CLEARWATER -- Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier said some of the best balls he’s hit this spring were kept in the park by some stubborn wind. But in hitting his first spring training home run Monday against the Phillies, he left little doubt, crushing a full-count pitch from Jake Arrieta onto the concourse above the right-field berm at Spectrum Field.
"It felt good to get into one today, jog around the bases for a change," Kiermaier said. "I don't do a whole lot of it during spring training. To get one off a stud pitcher like Arrieta makes it more sweeter always."
Said Arrieta, who struck out eight and walked none in six innings: "The homer was just, I threw right into his bat. A 3-2 cutter, it was middle. He hit far like guys like that will."
Kiermaier’s first homer is the latest sign that he’s trending upward offensively as the season nears. He had just one hit in his first 10 spring at bats, but has been steady since that slow start, hitting safely in 10 of his last 13 games. He hit a pair of doubles in the Rays’ first spring game in Clearwater.
"I feel locked in right now," Kiermaier said. "That's all you can ask for. It's all about seeing the ball and I'm seeing it really well right now. I feel like I've put proper swings on those certain pitches over the last couple weeks and I fee really good. ... You want to leave spring training feeling good about yourself and I can say that I'm very confident with where I'm at and my confidence at the plate and come Thursday, I'll be confident and ready to go.
Game recap
Diego Castillo's fastball hit 99 mph several times on the stadium radar gun in his scoreless one-inning outing in the third. He struck out two, and didn't get a borderline full-count call to Bryce Harper, walking him. ... Yandy Diaz played nine innings at third and made some nice defensive plays, a good sign since he will see ample time with with Matt Duffy injured. ... Catcher Michael Perez entered the game in the sixth and threw out two baserunners attempting to steal second that inning, nabbing former Ray Sean Rodriguez and pinch runner Malvin Matos. "Game-changing back there with his arm," Cash said. ... Cash was also pleased with Ian Gardeck's one inning of scoreless relief, saying his velocity has jumped to 97-98 mph after from 92 mph four weeks ago. ... Matos ended the game with a walk-off homer off minor-leaguer Jose Disla.
Spring things
Lefty Jalen Beeks got official word from manager Kevin Cash on the bench Sunday after his impressive outing, striking out seven of nine, that he made the team out of camp. "I was excited and feel super blessed,'' he said. "It’s crazy that I made an Opening Day roster, I don’t know if it’s really set in.'
Ha Ram (Sam) Jeong, who had been attending pharmacy school in St. Louis, joined the team Monday as the translator for Korean first baseman/DH Ji-Man Choi.
The Rays had three first-round picks among their minor-league extras: Garrett Whitley (2015), Josh Lowe (2016), Brendan McKay (2017) play on Monday. All three entered the game as subs.
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Explore all your optionsTyler Glasnow is the first pitcher to go 0-5 in spring training, per mlb.com stats, since Ross Ohlendorf for the Pirates in 2011.
Cash reiterated he won't go into the season with designated closer: "You might have Diego (Castillo) one night, you might have (Ryne) Stanek the next night. I have no idea. Committee, closer, as long as we win, that's all that matters."
Contact Eduardo A. Encina at eencina@tampabay.com. Follow @EddieInTheYard.