Aranda went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run Saturday against the Yankees.
Aranda capped off a comeback for the Rays with a walk-off home run in the 10th inning. He has hit well overall to begin the season and flashed a lot of power, tallying eight doubles and four home runs across 69 plate appearances, although most of that damage has come in the Rays' very hitter-friendly temporary home at George Steinbrenner Field. Aranda will likely remain in a strong-side platoon, but he did draw the start Friday with a lefty on the mound.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Grabbing seat versus lefty
Rotowire
Aranda is not in the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the Red Sox.
It's southpaw Sean Newcomb on the bump for the Red Sox, so the lefty-hitting Aranda will yield to the right-handed-batting Curtis Mead at first base. Aranda has been absent from the lineup all four times the Rays have faced a lefty this season.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Cracks third homer
Rotowire
Aranda went 2-for-3 with one walk and a solo homer in Tuesday's 7-4 loss to the Red Sox.
Aranda got the Rays in the scoring column in the second inning, when he took the first pitch he saw from Walker Buehler deep to right-center field for a 398-foot solo homer. Aranda has the hot bat as of late, going 14-for-30 with four walks, eight runs scored, three home runs and 10 RBI over his last nine games.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Solid day in blowout win
Rotowire
Aranda went 2-for-5 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored Monday against the Red Sox.
Aranda started his eighth straight game with a right-handed pitcher on the mound and helped the Rays to a 16-run outburst. The majority of his damage came in the third inning, when he led off with a single and then later doubled in a pair in the same frame. Aranda has multiple hits in four of his last seven starts and has nine RBI with seven runs scored in that span.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Perfect at plate in loss
Rotowire
Aranda went 3-for-3 with a home run, three RBI and two walks in Saturday's 5-4 loss to Atlanta.
Aranda was a force at the plate, reaching base in all five trips and driving in runs in the third, seventh and ninth innings. He's off to a scorching start, hitting .378 with two home runs, seven RBI and six runs scored across 44 plate appearances. The 26-year-old boasts a 95.7 mph average exit velocity this season and has only been limited by a platoon role, logging just five plate appearances against left-handed pitching.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Two doubles in first start of 2025
Rotowire
Aranda went 2-for-3 with two doubles Saturday against the Rockies.
Aranda was on the bench for the Rays' opening contest of the season because a lefty was on the mound, but he hit cleanup Saturday while facing righty Antonio Senzatela. He accounted for the team's only two extra-base hits before being pinch-hit for in the seventh inning with a southpaw reliever on the mound. Aranda should receive his most consistent opportunity in the majors this season, though he'll likely be on the bench against nearly all left-handed pitching.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: On bench for Opening Day
Rotowire
Aranda is not in the lineup for Friday's opener against the Rockies.
The Rockies are sending left-hander Kyle Freeland to the bump, so it's not a surprise the lefty-hitting Aranda will begin the contest on the bench. He is a candidate to come in mid-game when the Rockies use a right-handed reliever, and the 26-year-old remains likely to start at first base or DH against most righties.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Sitting versus Skubal
Rotowire
Aranda is not in the lineup for Tuesday's game in Detroit.
The left-handed hitter has homered in three straight contests, but with southpaw ace Tarik Skubal on the bump for the Tigers in this one, Aranda will take a seat. Brandon Lowe will be at first base for the Rays in the series opener.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Homers again in win
Rotowire
Aranda went 2-for-3 with two-run home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Saturday's 3-2 win over the Blue Jays.
Aranda homered for the second straight contest, crushing a 414-foot blast off Yariel Rodriguez in the third inning. The 26-year-old has hit safely in eight of his past 10 games while going deep four times. On the season, he is hitting .248 with five long balls, 11 RBI and 19 runs scored across 117 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Pops fourth homer
Rotowire
Aranda went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Friday against the Blue Jays.
Aranda has started five straight games and 12 of the Rays' last 14 contests. He's played primarily at first base but has also made three starts at second base-- including Friday night. Since Aranda has gotten regular playing time, he's gone 12-for-44 with three home runs, four RBI and seven runs scored while striking out only 14 percent of the time.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Getting regular look in lineup
Rotowire
Aranda went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Friday against the Guardians.
Aranda has been in the lineup for seven of the Rays' last eight games, including five appearances at first base. In that limited sample, he's gone 7-for-25 with two homers, three RBI, three doubles and five runs scored. With Tampa Bay out of the playoff picture, the team could opt to continue giving Aranda run to evaluate him for a potentially expanded role in 2025.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Swats second homer
Rotowire
Aranda went 2-for-3 with a walk and a solo home run in Wednesday's 3-2 loss to the Phillies.
The 26-year-old took Zack Wheeler deep in the sixth inning, briefly tying the game at 2-2 and giving Aranda his second homer of the season in 85 plate appearances. Aranda may be moving into a regular role for the Rays -- he's started five of the last six games, four at first base and one at second base, and gone 5-for-18 (.278) over that stretch with three doubles, a homer and a 3:4 BB:K. Tampa Bay has fallen seven games off the pace in the battle for the final wild-card spot in the AL with 16 games left to play, so the team is likely to continue giving a long look to unproven players like Aranda to evaluate their place in the franchise's future plans.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Makes second start since promotion
Rotowire
Aranda went 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored Tuesday against the Twins.
Aranda was in the lineup at first base and made his second start in five games since being recalled. So long as the Rays' infield remains healthy, it appears that Aranda will struggle to get consistent playing time. He's gone 2-for-10 with a double, two RBI and two runs scored since being recalled.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Rejoins big club
Rotowire
The Rays recalled Aranda from Triple-A Durham on Friday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The 26-year-old was activated off Durham's injured list last week after missing two months due to an oblique strain, and he's now returning to the big leagues. Aranda has seen action in 18 MLB games this season and has a .607 OPS in 52 plate appearances, though he's crushed the ball at Triple-A since returning from the injury, going 10-for-23 with four homers in six games.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Heads to minor-league IL
Rotowire
Triple-A Durham placed Aranda on its 7-day injured list Friday with an oblique strain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Aranda is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks while recovering from the oblique injury, meaning he can safely be ruled out through the All-Star break. The 26-year-old has struggled to a .189 average with three home runs, 10 RBI and 13 runs scored in 26 games with Durham this season.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Sitting against lefty
Rotowire
Aranda is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Athletics.
The lefty-hitting Aranda will hit the bench for the second day in a row, this time against a lefty (Hogan Harris) after he sat out against right-hander Joey Estes in Wednesday's 4-3 win. Aranda came off the bench Wednesday and delivered a pinch-hit RBI single, lifting his average up to .237 over 14 games on the season. Harold Ramirez will get another turn at designated hitter Thursday.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Hits bench Saturday
Rotowire
Aranda isn't in the Rays' lineup Saturday versus the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Aranda has gone 3-for-13 with three runs scored since coming off the injured list Tuesday, and he'll now get his first day off since returning. His absence will allow Harold Ramirez to serve as the Rays' designated hitter, batting third.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Getting into rhythm
Rotowire
Aranda (finger) went 4-for-5 with a double, a walk, an RBI and two runs scored in a rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday.
Aranda has been on a rehab assignment since April 26 and went hitless in his first 19 at-bats. However, he's since seen some improved results, collecting at least one hit in three straight games. The Rays may let him continue to heat up with Durham, but Aranda should be back with the big-league club soon. He also should have the chance to get regular at-bats upon activation at a combination of second base, third base and designated hitter.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: Rehab assignment coming soon
Rotowire
Manager Kevin Cash said Aranda (finger) is expected to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham later this week, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.
Aranda had the pins removed from his surgically repaired right ring finger a week ago, and he looks to be nearing a return to game action. The 25-year-old has been sidelined for the past month, so he'll need a good number of rehab at-bats before being activated from the 10-day injured list. Aranda had been in line to serve as the Rays' primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching before getting hurt.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Jonathan Aranda: IL-bound with fractured finger
Rotowire
Aranda will begin the season on the injured list after being diagnosed Thursday with a fractured right ring finger, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He's scheduled to have surgery to insert a pin into his finger and will likely miss 4-to-6 weeks, per Topkin.
Aranda suffered the injury while fielding a grounder Tuesday. The 25-year-old had been slated to open the season as Tampa Bay's primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching, but the injury will likely keep him out for at least all of April. In Aranda's stead, Curtis Mead, Harold Ramirez and Amed Rosario could benefit from some added opportunities against right-handed pitching early on in the season.
