TBNL: Some old familiar names show up overseas; early attendance is down

Attendance is down in Tampa, Minnesota

It may still be only April, but thanks to an unbalanced schedule in part to avoid the summer heat (and rain) in Tampa, the Rays have already played a quarter of their “home” schedule at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

The much smaller capacity at Steinbrenner Field (11,026) versus Tropicana Field (25,025) has certainly contributed, but the Rays have seen a 36% drop in attendance compared to last year’s average crowd of 10,046 fans per game, according to Front Office Sports’ Eric Fisher.

The Rays enter play on Thursday at 10-14, already 4.5 games back in the AL East.

Meanwhile, uncertainty surrounding a potential sale of the Twins, coupled with the team’s 9-15 start, is contributing to dwindling attendance numbers. Minnesota is averaging less than 18,000 fans per game, seventh-worst in the league, and their announced attendance (tickets sold, not necessarily fans actually there) of 10,240 on Monday was the lowest in the 15-year history of Target Field.

Elsewhere, around the sport …

• Twins utility prospect Luke Keaschall (who can play anywhere on the infield and has been taking reps in the outfield, too) tied an MLB record on Wednesday. Keaschall became the fifth player with five stolen bases through their first five career games, joining Luis Castillo (1996), Ced Landrum (1991), Donell Nixon (1987), and Vince Coleman (1985).

• Sticking in Minnesota a moment, the Twins announced that former players Tony Oliva and Kent Hrbek are each home recovering after suffering from a stroke. Both team legends are expected to make a full recovery, according to Yahoo! Sports’ Tyler Mason.

• Rangers DH Joc Pederson snapped a 0-for-41 streak on Wednesday with a pinch-hit double.

• Yasiel Puig is still playing — and causing tempers to flare. Puig, who is hitting just .217/.291/.349 through 117 PA in his second season with the Kiwoom Heroes, nearly caused the benches to clear during Wednesday’s game between the Heroes and Doosan Bears. Puig was hit by a pitch in the shoulder and then nearly hit a second time by the same pitcher his next trip to the plate.

• Speaking of guys still playing, Robinson Canó signed with the Diablos Rojos in the Mexican League and is off to a hot start once again. The 42-year-old Canó hit .431/.475/.639 over 360 PA in the league last year.

• Former Yankees prospect Osiel Rodriguez is pitching in Mexico with the Bravos de Leon. New York surprisingly released the 23-year-old in late February (with little explanation). Rodriguez posted a 3.55 ERA over 147.0 IP with 183 strikeouts over his five seasons in the Yankees’ system. Reports at the time suggested that multiple other organizations had already reached out about signing him. It seems Rodriguez opted instead to head to Mexico for now.

• Evidently, Baseball Digest is still in existence. The former print publication underwent a handful of “rebuilds” during their digital lifetime (I even wrote a Nationals season preview for them once upon a time around 2007 or 2008) and I wasn’t sure they were still around before today. According to a report from the Associated Press, the publication has awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary broadcaster Bob Costas.

Former Red Sox (and Brewers, Blue Jays, and Mets — but let’s skip over those last three seasons and the .176/.238/.275 line he posted in his final 308 PA) outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr. has a new gig. The defensive wizard who patrolled the outfield at Fenway Park for nine seasons, winning a Gold Glove Award and batting .236/.315/.404 with 101 home runs, is moving to the broadcast booth.

JBJ was always one of Dad’s favorites.