Rays’ Taylor Walls Is A Sub-.200 Career Hitter Who Thrives With The Bases Loaded

BusinessSportsMoneyRays’ Taylor Walls Is A Sub-.200 Career Hitter Who Thrives With The Bases LoadedByTom Layberger,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I write about college football and sports in the Tampa Bay region.Follow AuthorMay 17, 2026, 10:30pm EDTST. PETERSBURG, FL - Taylor Walls of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a bases-loaded triple against the Miami Marlins during the fourth inning of a baseball game at Tropicana Field on May 17, 2026 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Carlson/Getty Images)Getty ImagesAs he stood in front of his stall in the home clubhouse at Tropicana Field on Sunday afternoon, Taylor Walls was asked if he was aware of his career numbers with the bases loaded. The reporter who broached the subject said the stats were “crazy.” The Tampa Bay Rays’ shortstop was not too sure what that meant. “Crazy bad?” he inquired.The reporter noted quite the opposite and pointed out Walls had a career OPS of 1.010 with the bases full.“Go tell Cash to put me in at cleanup,” Walls quipped to much laughter in referring to manager Kevin Cash. Everyone in the Rays’ clubhouse was in a good mood following a 6-3 win over the Marlins, a victory that gave the Rays their seventh straight series win and improved their American League-best record to 30-15.Trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth and the bases loaded with two outs, Walls lifted his OPS with the sacks full to 1.100 when he drove Eury Perez’s initial offering (98 mph four-seamer) to the wall in right-center. Jonny DeLuca, Cedric Mullins and Nick Fortes scored to the give Tampa Bay the lead for good. Walls motored easily into third.Walls’ second triple of the season and 10th of his career gave him 40 RBI in 31 at-bats (12-for-31, .387) and 43 plate appearances with the bases loaded since arriving on the big-league scene with the Rays in 2021. In addition to his triple, he has one career grand slam and a pair of doubles with each base occupied. He also has th...