ST. PETERSBURG, FLA. — Tampa Bay Rays top shortstop prospect Willy Adames made his major league debut on Tuesday, going 1-for-4 and homering off Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale in a 4-2 loss at Tropicana Field.
Adames was called up from the Durham Bulls earlier in the day with infielder Joey Wendle being place on paternity leave following the birth of his son.
Hitting fifth in the Rays’ order, Adames struck out swinging on a 97 mph fastball from Sale in his first at-bat in the first inning. He quickly got his revenge in his next time at the plate in the fourth inning, connecting on a 1-0 changeup for his first career home run.
Adames is the No. 2 prospect in the Rays’ organization and No. 16 in all of baseball, according to MLB.com. The 22-year-old was hitting .311 with four home runs and 25 RBIs in 40 games with Triple-A Durham this season.
The Rays acquired Adames as part of the David Price trade to the Detroit Tigers in 2014.
Wendle, 28, has hit .288 with one home run and 11 RBIs in 38 games this season.
