How going retro with a small-ball approach has paid off big for Rays

PITTSBURGH - The Rays typically find their edge by being ahead of the game.

Over the last 20 years, from the owner through the front office and field staff, to the research and development analysts, they've tried to forecast and figure out what the next big advantage might be.

Often, they'd adopt an idea, other teams would scoff initially and then scramble to catch on and catch up. As that new thing became commonplace, the Rays would seek another.

Most prominent of those was the opener pitching strategy, which, starting in May 2018, literally changed how the game was played.

The Rays were also at the forefront of other innovations and/or adjustments, such as defensive shifts, lineup platoons, matchup bullpens, star-quality super-utility players and putting a numbers nerd (technically a process and analytics coach) in the dugout.

But throughout the Rays' successful opening three weeks of this season, there has been a retro theme.

Specifically, an offense that plays the old-school way - forcing the action by putting the ball in play, running wild on the bases, bunting early and often, and keeping pressure on the defense.

"It's definitely throwback," hitting coach Chad Mottola said. "But it's their skill sets."

Despite playing home games last season at hitter-friendly Steinbrenner Field, the Rays ranked below league average in most key offensive categories.

Moving back to notably pitcher-friendly Tropicana Field for this season seemed likely to make things worse.

But a funny thing happened on the way to spring training: A massive roster makeover following back-to-back losing seasons changed the dynamic of the lineup.

Gone were some players who struck out a lot and often produced empty at-bats. In were some guys who made contact, grinded through tough matchups, ran well and played team-first, situational baseball.

Also, they turned an improved Chandler Simpson loose on the world, and he has been a tempo-setting, momentum grabbing, game-changing demon.

All of which allowed the coaching staff to focus on a team-wide attack that took advantage of their speed and skills.

"What we've always done is work with guys individually to their strengths," Mottola said. "The team we assembled this year is a contact team, so it's been enjoyable the way they've grinded out at-bats in situations - leaning on each other, accepting the walk, accepting the bunt, making things happen with small ball.

"I also give Chandler a lot of credit for kind of setting the tone, and guys kind of see how he's creating things."

The team-first approach has shown itself in a number of ways, and through some interesting numbers.

Going into the weekend series in Pittsburgh, the Rays:

• Were among the best in the majors in putting the ball in play, with the top contact rate (80.1%) and lowest strikeout rate (18.2%). And they ranked second in scoring runners from third base (61.2%).

• Have made bunting - once the bane of some analytically savvy teams, as it gave away one of the precious 27 outs - a key part of their attack.

Their nine sacrifice bunts, with a 75% conversion rate, and six bunt hits were tops or tied in the majors and included several squeeze bunts that scored runs and led to wins.

• Have used their ample speed well, leading the majors in infield hits (30) while ranking near the top in steals (21) and other advantage-gaining plays, such as going from first to third (or home) on a single (19).

In doing all that, they put immense pressure on pitchers and defenses, which leads to errors, misplays and mounting frustration.

"That peskiness, man, it's not fun for a pitcher when there's constant guys on base and guys are stealing," veteran starter Nick Martinez said.

The Rays' way also has led some teams to adjust their positioning, which can open up other holes to be exploited.

"They've got a lot of athleticism - they're going to bunt, they're going to steal, especially with Simpson being at the top, adding (Cedric) Mullins," Pirates manager Don Kelly said before Friday's series opener.

"So they bring a different element that you've got to prepare for and talk about and be ready to defend against."

While the Rays feel they have enough power to occasionally flex their muscles - such as hitting a season-high-matching three homers in Wednesday's win against the White Sox - they seem to greatly enjoy the offensive diversity of also being able to play small ball the old fashioned way.

"That's baseball right there," said All-Star third baseman Junior Caminero. "We hit, we run, we bunt, we have power. We have everything this year."

Added outfielder Jake Fraley, "It's just a dynamic lineup."

It shows, as they have won an AL-leading five games without hitting a home run - including three in a row during the six-game winning streak that ended Friday - and scored five or more runs without a homer an MLB-best five times.

"It's interesting. That's a very special style of play," veteran designated hitter Yandy Diaz said via team interpreter Kevin Vera. "We're not necessarily a team that has a ton of, quote, unquote, ‘power,' but that's our style of play, and so we've just got to keep doing that, because that's what's worked for us. That's our brand, just that small ball."

Diaz, who last dropped a sacrifice bunt at Triple A in 2018, said "that's the style of baseball that I like to watch, I like to play. Just get guys on, move them over and hopefully score some runs."

Doing the physical things, such as bunting against the triple-digit velocities and nasty breaking pitches in today's game, is one important element in their new style of play.

Another is getting the players - some in contract years, others trying to establish themselves as big-leaguers - to buy into a team-first approach and give themselves up when warranted, such as with a runner on third.

"It's like, that's not your at-bat," infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios said. "It's the team's at-bat."

Bottom line, what they've been doing has been working.

"I've liked the way that we are finding ways to score runs," manager Kevin Cash said. "At the end of the day, it's about scoring runs and preventing them."

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This story was originally published April 18, 2026 at 9:43 AM.