/arc-anglerfish-arc2-prod-tbt.s3.amazonaws.com/public/XIQ3KDWJI4I6TAGOPAY4DVT77I.jpg "Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) gets drenched by Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Chris Archer (22) after the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Baltimore Orioles in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Tuesday, April 26, 2016. The Tampa Bay Rays beat the Baltimore Orioles 3-1.")
Kevin Kiermaier was one of the first players I met at spring training when I took over our photo coverage of the Rays in 2014. We found common ground in having gone to high school in the same town (Fort Wayne, Ind.) and hit some of the same college hangouts in between the state schools.
Since he got called up a few months into the 2014 season, I've covered the vast majority of games he's played in at the Trop and in spring training. While these photos may not encompass all of his greatest baseball moments (I have a pretty vivid memory of watching an impressive catch made in Baltimore...on my TV) they are a selection of some my favorite images that I've made over the last couple of hundred games in Tampa Bay.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) slides into third on the single by Tampa Bay Rays catcher Luke Maile (46) in the second inning of the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Friday, July 15, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) slides into third on the single by Tampa Bay Rays catcher Luke Maile (46) in the second inning of the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Friday, July 15, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) dives for the catch on a fly ball by Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) in the third inning of the game between the Seattle Mariners at the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Tuesday, May 26, 2015.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) dives for the catch on a fly ball by Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano (22) in the third inning of the game between the Seattle Mariners at the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Tuesday, May 26, 2015.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) in the dugout after his two run home run in the seventh inning of the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) in the dugout after his two run home run in the seventh inning of the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) hangs on the wall as right fielder Daniel Nava (7) tries to get under a two run home run by Kansas City Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales (25) in the third inning of the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Friday, August 28, 2015.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
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Explore all your optionsTampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) hangs on the wall as right fielder Daniel Nava (7) tries to get under a two run home run by Kansas City Royals designated hitter Kendrys Morales (25) in the third inning of the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Friday, August 28, 2015.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) blows a bubble as he warms up in the dugout during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Wednesday, March 15, 2017.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) blows a bubble as he warms up in the dugout during the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Wednesday, March 15, 2017.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) makes a flying catch on a liner to right field by St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Peter Bourjos (8) to end the top of the fifth inning of the St. Louis Cardinals against the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field on Wednesday, June 11, 2014.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) makes a flying catch on a liner to right field by St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Peter Bourjos (8) to end the top of the fifth inning of the St. Louis Cardinals against the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field on Wednesday, June 11, 2014.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) watches the replay of the two run home run by Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Corey Dickerson (10) in the second inning of the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Tuesday, June 14, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) watches the replay of the two run home run by Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Corey Dickerson (10) in the second inning of the game between the Seattle Mariners and the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Tuesday, June 14, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (16) and Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) before the start of the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago White Sox in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Saturday, April 16, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash (16) and Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) before the start of the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Chicago White Sox in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Saturday, April 16, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Brandon Guyer (5) and center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) get psyched up in the dugout before the Spring Training game between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Thursday, March 26, 2015.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays left fielder Brandon Guyer (5) and center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) get psyched up in the dugout before the Spring Training game between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Thursday, March 26, 2015.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) connects for a single in the seventh inning of the game between the Oakland Athletics at the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Friday, May 22, 2015.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) connects for a single in the seventh inning of the game between the Oakland Athletics at the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Friday, May 22, 2015.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Logan Morrison (7) hugs center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) in the dugout before the start of the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Pittsburgh Pirates in Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Thursday, March 31, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Logan Morrison (7) hugs center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) in the dugout before the start of the game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Pittsburgh Pirates in Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Thursday, March 31, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) gets under the fly ball by Boston Red Sox third baseman Aaron Hill (18) in the fifth inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) makes the leaping catch on the fly ball by Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Jake Elmore (21) in the first inning of the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Sunday, March 12, 2017.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) gets under the fly ball by Boston Red Sox third baseman Aaron Hill (18) in the fifth inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Aug. 25, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) makes the leaping catch on the fly ball by Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Jake Elmore (21) in the first inning of the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla. on Sunday, March 12, 2017.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) signs for fans before the start of the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, July 7, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) signs for fans before the start of the game between the Los Angeles Angels and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, July 7, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) leaps for the fly ball by Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) in the fifth inning of the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) leaps for the fly ball by Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) in the fifth inning of the game between the Kansas City Royals and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Thursday, Aug. 4, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) dives trying to stretch his double in the eighth inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) dives trying to stretch his double in the eighth inning of the game between the Boston Red Sox and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) hangs from the roof of the dugout before the start of the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) hangs from the roof of the dugout before the start of the game between the Baltimore Orioles and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Monday, Sept. 5, 2016.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) after pouring water over his head in the dugout during the game between the New York Mets and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Saturday, August 8, 2015.
WILL VRAGOVIC | Times
Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) after pouring water over his head in the dugout during the game between the New York Mets and the Tampa Bay Rays in Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. on Saturday, August 8, 2015.
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