The Rays were scrambling behind the plate on Monday, and the solution turned into a night rookie catcher Piper will remember for a long time.
Tampa Bay had already made one move by acquiring Liam Hicks from the Marlins, but Hicks wasn’t going to make it to Denver until Tuesday. At the same time, Hunter Feduccia had been dealt to the Dodgers even though he was lined up to start the series opener at Coors Field. That left the Rays thin at catcher, and Piper became the emergency answer.
He’d already been told after playing for Montgomery on Sunday to fly to Colorado and check into the Rays’ team hotel. The catch was that he still hadn’t been called up. He was simply on standby, waiting for the phone to ring.
It did around 4 p.m. manager Kevin Cash called and asked, “Where are you?” Piper was at the hotel with his wife and 1 1/2-year-old daughter, exactly where he’d been told to be. Cash’s next words were short and sweet: “Get over here,” Cash said.
From there, everything moved fast. Piper went from the hotel to the visitors’ clubhouse at Coors Field, where he hugged teammates and then found himself in the starting lineup. He was behind the plate with longtime batterymate Ian Seymour, turning an unexpected opening into a debut he won’t forget.
“Surreal, man. It's a blast to play with these guys,” Piper said afterward.
“That moment was unlike any that I've ever felt before. … When I got that first hit and the crowd was cheering for me and my teammates were cheering for me, that moment was one that I'll never forget.”
Cash said the group was thrilled to see Piper get the chance.
“We were all super pumped for him, because he's been such a special player in the organization for quite some time,” Cash said. “We all know him very well, and he got an opportunity and made the most of it.”
In Other News...
Rays Added One More Outfielder But His Role Is The Real Story
The Rays added another name to their outfield mix late in the lead-up to the 2026 MLB trade deadline, bringing in Jack Suwinski from the Dodgers in a move that also sent Hunter Fuduccia and Jacob Kmatz out of the organization. Suwinski brings major league experience with him, but most of his time this season has come at the Triple-A level, which fits the kind of depth-and-flexibility approach Tampa Bay has long favored when it starts shopping near the deadline.
What makes the deal interesting for the Rays is less the addition itself than the role Suwinski might fill once he arrives. Tampa Bay has been active in the market, and this was its fourth move before the deadline, a sign the front office is still looking for useful pieces rather than just headline names. The club also added international bonus pool money in the trade, leaving the door open for more maneuvering as the deadline picture keeps taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
Rays Fans Will Have Strong Feelings About This Dodgers Deadline Deal
A late deadline move with a familiar feel sent Hunter Feduccia and Jacob Kmatz to Los Angeles as the Dodgers looked for help behind the plate and on the mound after injuries hit catchers Will Smith and Dalton Rushing. For Tampa Bay, it was another reminder of how quickly the roster churn can work this time of year, especially when a player like Feduccia comes full circle after already spending time in the Dodgers organization before landing with the Rays.
The return centered on outfielder Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money, which gives Tampa Bay a different kind of asset to work with as it keeps managing both the present roster and the pipeline behind it. Kmatz, a recent Rays draft pick, adds another layer of short-term sting to the deal for fans who like to track the development side as closely as the major league results, and this one figures to prompt plenty of second-guessing on both ends. [Read more 🡒]