When the Tampa Bay Rays open the 2023 season Thursday against the Detroit Tigers , you'll still find Luke Raley hanging out on the corner.
Just don't look in the outfield for the 2013 Highland graduate.
The Rays have moved Raley, 28, to first base and, if spring training was any indication, Raley has found his home.
The position change was the brainchild of the Rays after Raley came to Tampa Bay in a March 18, 2022 trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers .
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"They mentioned the position change right off the bat," Raley said. "Nothing really came to life until about halfway through the season last year. I played there a little bit early on in Durham last year, but never really did anything with it in the big leagues other than one injury to Harold Ramirez in the middle of a game where I had to go fill in."
While Raley made 26 starts for Triple A affiliate Durham last season, the last time he played first base was in 2018 when he was with Dodgers Double A affiliate Tulsa.
When the Rays traded Ji-Man Choi to the Pittsburgh Pirates , a slot opened up and Raley took advantage of it.
Right now, he's splitting time with former Guardians prospect Yandy Diaz. If Tampa Bay feels comfortable with Diaz at third, you might see Raley at first in a more full-time basis.
Especially if the summer looks like the last month for Raley, who finished spring training batting .326 with two doubles, five home runs and 14 RBIs.
The home runs ranked tied for third, while the RBIs were tied for sixth among all MLB players.
Tampa Bay has been honest with Raley. The Rays have made him into a "serviceable first baseman," but they want him to be a good first baseman and they think that's achievable.
"The toughest thing for me is the reaction time," Raley said. "In the outfield, you get to read the ball. I got so used to it. It's all reaction at first base. I shouldn't say all, but if the ball is hit hard it's a step and a dive. You have to know what you're doing. That's the biggest adjustment. I'm feeling more and more comfortable. I'm happy they're giving me as many innings as they can."
In two seasons — one with the Dodgers and one with the Rays — Raley has hit .189 with three home runs, eight RBIs and 12 runs.
His minor league stats show a .290 hitter with 79 home runs, 297 RBIs and 344 runs over the course of 482 games.
"I think the fact I can now play first as well as the corner outfield gives me way more opportunity to play with a little bit of consistency," Raley said. "I think I'll still get moved around a little bit, but it's just another position to get me on the field and in the box. I'm all for it. Like anything else, there have been some growing pains, but I like the position a lot. You're very engaged.
"I think I'm a lot more valuable. There was a vacancy there. They've even said to me that they love I can play all three positions — first and both corner outfield positions. They've even said I could play center field in a pinch. Every position gives you another open door."
Contact Brad Bournival at bbournival@gannett.com and follow him on Twitter at @bbournival
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Luke Raley opens Tampa Bay Rays season, with moves from outfield
