PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Following Saturday's abbreviated workout at Charlotte Sports Park, Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters he has liked what he's seen from the young hitters on the team thus far in camp.
"I was talking to [instructor] Bill Evers, and there's a difference this camp early on as far as -- we had [Major League] hitters, and no discredit to the Minor League guys -- but there was a gap [last year]," Cash said. "We think we've gotten better big league hitters now, but our younger players have really begun to impress.
"I guess my point that I'm trying to make is, [Richie] Shaffer, [Mikie] Mahtook, [Tim] Beckham, [Taylor] Motter, those guys, if they're in a group with Longo, DJ, Dickerson, whoever, they fit right in.