Trending Now - Rays Shortstop Walls Placed on IL, Paving Way for Williams

WHO:

Taylor Walls, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop

Carson Williams, top-ranked prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays

Rodney Linares, Rays bench coach

Kevin Cash, Rays manager

Adam Berry, senior reporter for MLB.com

WHAT:

Taylor Walls will open the 2026 season on the injured list due to a right oblique injury.

Carson Williams was optioned to Minor League camp but may rejoin the Rays as the Opening Day shortstop.

Walls batted .220 with a .280 on-base percentage, four home runs, 38 RBIs, and 14 steals in 101 games during the 2025 season.

Williams batted .172 with a .219 on-base percentage, five home runs, 12 RBIs, and two steals in 32 games for the Rays in 2025.

Williams had a batting average of .213 with a .318 on-base percentage, 23 home runs, 55 RBIs, and 22 steals in 111 games for Triple-A Durham in 2025.

Williams was 8-for-22 (.364) with two doubles, one walk, and five strikeouts in 24 plate appearances during Spring Training.

WHERE:

Port Charlotte, Florida (Rays' spring training location)

Clover Park, Port St. Lucie, Florida (location of the Spring Breakout game against the Mets)

BayCare Ballpark, Clearwater, Florida (location of the game against the Phillies)

WHEN:

The Rays' Spring Breakout game against the Mets is scheduled for March 19th, 2026, at 7:10 p.m. ET.

Imaging on Walls' injury occurred on March 17th, 2026.

The Rays optioned Carson Williams to Minor League camp on January 21st, 2026.

Spring Breakout will take place from March 19th to March 22nd, 2026.

WHY:

Walls' injury creates an opportunity for Carson Williams to potentially make the opening roster.

HOW:

Imaging was used to provide clarity on Walls' injury after he felt discomfort while hitting in the cage.

(UPDATED March 19, 2026 19:25 UTC)

In a significant development for the Tampa Bay Rays, shortstop Taylor Walls will start the 2026 season on the injured list due to a right oblique injury, which was confirmed after imaging on March 17. This opens the door for top-ranked prospect Carson Williams, who was optioned to Minor League camp earlier this year but may rejoin the team as the Opening Day shortstop. The Rays are set to play their Spring Breakout game against the Mets tonight at 7:10 p.m. ET in Port St. Lucie, Florida.