Rays journal: Jake Bauers leaves with a bang as he heads to minor-league camp

PORT CHARLOTTE

INF/OF Jake Bauers left his calling card with a two-run double Thursday against the Yankees just hours after being told he was reassigned to minor-league camp. • Bauers, one of eight players reassigned, hit .371 in 17 games with a .465 on-base percentage, an .857 slugging percentage, three doubles, one triple, four homers and 13 RBIs. • "What did he not show," manager Kevin Cash said. "We're excited about him. Just his overall approach to hitting is what stands out more than anything." • Also reassigned to camp: OF Johnny Field, 1B Casey Gillaspie, INF Jake Hager, 3B Patrick Leonard, OF Dayron Varona, RHP Andrew Kittredge and RHP Neil Wagner.

Boxberger to DL

As expected, RHP Brad Boxberger will begin the season on the disabled list because of lat/back soreness. He will not throw for at least a week until the pain goes away.

Boxberger thinks the injury is the result of last season when he made two trips to the DL because of surgery on his adductor brevis muscle in the groin area in March and an oblique strain on May 31.

"It was a freak thing coming back, my body getting adjusted to everything after the ups and downs from last year," he said. "I think that's part of it from starting and stopping so much last year. Probably carrying over a little bit."

Quote of the day

"He's a big-game pitcher, so I'm looking forward to hopefully facing him in the playoffs this year."

RHP Chris Archer on Toronto's Marcus Stroman, who pitched six no-hit innings Wednesday in Team USA's victory in the WBC final

Game stuff: Rays 5, Yankees 5

RHP Austin Pruitt continued to make a push for a spot in the bullpen with four strong innings. He struck out five. He has allowed three earned runs in 14⅔ innings. … C Jesus Sucre threw out two base stealers. … The Rays committed four errors, including three in the ninth that allowed the Yankees to score the tying run. … RF Steven Souza Jr. tripled in his first at-bat and played one inning in centerfield after Kevin Kiermaier left the game. … Souza left the game the next inning after ripping a blister on his left palm.

Spring things

. Manager Kevin Cash is concerned with RHP Shawn Tolleson, who allowed two runs on two hits, including a home run, and two runs in one inning Thursday. "We got to get going a little bit, and he's one of them," Cash said.

. RHP Jumbo Diaz had a rough outing, allowing two runs in 1⅓. The Rays have basically one week to decide if he makes the team.

. The Rays are among teams talking to free agent C Derek Norris, but as of now they are on the outside looking in.

. RHP David Carpenter and RHP Jeff Walters were released.