The Rays waited until the final moments of the MLB trade deadline to make one last swing, sending C Hunter Feduccia and minor league RP Jacob Kmatz to the Dodgers for Triple-A OF Jack Suwinski and international bonus pool money.
That bonus pool cash matters, especially with the Rays already tied to several well-known IFA targets in the 2027 class, including an 80-grade name right-handed pitcher Mussumbay Navarro. But the headliner in this deal is Suwinski, who now steps into the organization as one of its more interesting outfield options.
Suwinski is a left-handed hitting outfielder with nearly 400 games of MLB experience for the Pirates from 2022-2025. The Pirates designated him for assignment before the Dodgers claimed him in February, and that move sent him to Triple-A with a clear purpose: keep the power, clean up the swing. By all accounts, that mission worked.
The changes are built around two main tweaks. First, Suwinski shortened the path of his swing, cutting down the amount of movement needed to get the barrel to the ball.
He had used more of a hitch and barrel tip in the past, which helped create power but also made the swing longer than ideal. The tradeoff showed up in the contact numbers, with a 72.8% contact rate in the majors and 69.0% in Triple-A before the 2026 season.
This year, that number has climbed to 79.6%, and the improvement looks rooted in real mechanical work rather than a temporary run of good luck.
The second change is in his bat angle. Suwinski has made it less vertical and more “flat,” another adjustment that supports contact.
A steeper path can create more loft, so there is some risk of more balls on the ground, but that hasn’t been a major issue so far. The differences show up clearly on low pitches, where his starting position at front-foot plant is notably altered.
The broader result is a hitter who looks better equipped to handle different pitch types. In comparing his Triple-A performance from 2022-2025 to what he has done in 2026, the numbers point to real gains against secondary pitches without taking away his ability to punish velocity. The exact figures matter less than the trend: Suwinski looks more balanced, more controlled, and more capable of surviving advanced pitching.
Defensively, he’s viewed as a workable corner outfielder. His arm and speed both grade around average.
The Rays, though, have a reputation for helping outfielders improve their jumps, so there’s at least some curiosity about whether they can squeeze a little more out of him there. Even so, the bat is what makes him relevant.
Against righties, he has a path to everyday at-bats if the offensive gains hold.
For Tampa Bay, the appeal is straightforward. Left-handed outfield depth has been thin, especially with Fraley and Melton dealing with injuries for much of the year, and the club saw enough risk in its major league outfield situation to act. Suwinski also comes with useful roster flexibility: he does not need a 40-man spot right now and won’t be a free agent until 2030.
The Rays have added a player whose swing changes have opened a new lane for him. Now he just needs the chance to use it. That opportunity could arrive in 2026, though 2027 may be the more realistic landing spot.
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