Rays’ Willy Vasquez Gets A Little Better Each Day

Shortstop depth is a signature feature of the Rays’ farm system.

That is true from Wander Franco in MLB all the way down to Low-A Charleston, where Willy Vasquez and 2021 first-rounder Carson Williams embarked on their first Opening Day assignments this year.

The 20-year-old Vasquez is not fazed by the internal competition.

“That is what it is,’’ Vasquez said, via team interpreter Manny Navarro. “As long as you go out there and do your work—that’s my job . . .

“It’s a blessing to be here with the Rays, a great organization. There’s a lot of other shortstops here, but my job is just to do my job and play.’’

Vasquez notes that the competition between Rays shortstop prospects is friendly.

“I’m not there to compete against them in any kind of bad way,” Vasquez said. “I compete against myself. My job is to get 1% better every single day.’’

Vasquez has earned praise and drawn interesting comparisons along the way. He left his native Dominican Republic at age 10 to attend middle school and his first three years of high school in New Jersey. He then returning to the D.R. so he wasn’t subject to the draft and signed with the Rays in July 2019.

Since joining the Rays, Vasquez has most frequently been compared with Willy Adames, especially with regard to his outgoing personality and “Pied Piper” type presence that attracts teammates.

And like Adames did, Vasquez is working hard on his English to be bilingual.

“Just being able to be compared to (Adames, who is) already in the big leagues is an honor,’’ Vasquez said. “Like everyone says, we’re just out here chasing the dream.’’

COOL RAYS

— Righthander Phoenix Sanders, a 10th-round senior sign from South Florida in 2017, was the latest Rays’ homegrown pitcher to reach the majors when he was called up April 14. Sanders’ father-in-law is Scott Hemond, a fellow USF product who played parts of seven seasons with the Athletics, White Sox and Cardinals.

— Righthander Tyler Zombro’s remarkable comeback from a traumatic brain injury after being hit by a line drive last June with Triple-A Durham, was delayed because he needed more time at the start of the season to build arm strength.