PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Kevin Kiermaier has always played with a chip on his shoulder, but he admits that there's some extra motivation heading into Spring Training after a frustrating 2018 season.
"I don't think I've ever had a bigger chip on my shoulder," Kiermaier said Saturday. "I want to go out and show that I'm still a really damn good player. And I'm going to go prove that."
Rays manager Kevin Cash said the team is going to chalk up last season as a broken year for Kiermaier. Injuries limited Kiermaier to a career-low 88 games in 2018, and he was never able to get into a consistent rhythm.