Top players in Rays history? Yandy Diaz is joining the conversation

ST. PETERSBURG — Evan Longoria still is, and perhaps always will be, the best player in Rays franchise history. Carl Crawford is a strong No. 2.

Discussion over who would join them on a Rays Mount Rushmore includes Kevin Kiermaier, David Price, James Shields and Ben Zobrist, and it could be a somewhat lively debate.

But there's a current player swinging his way into the conversation: Yandy Diaz.

On Friday, Diaz, 32, claimed a notable team record, extending his hitting streak to 20 games, surpassing the mark of 19 Jason Bartlett set in 2009 and held for 14 seasons. Diaz also extended his on-base streak to 29 games, ninth longest for a Ray, and sixth best in a single season.

And there's plenty more on his hits list:

• Last season, Diaz became the first player in franchise history to win an American League batting title, with a team-record .330 average.

• He was sixth in the 2023 AL MVP voting (matching Longoria for the highest finish by a Ray), won team most valuable honors and was voted an All-Star starter.

• The Rays have been to the postseason in each of Diaz's first five seasons, with him playing an increasingly key role. Only Kiermaier, by the technicality of his 2013 Game 163 callup, also was a part of five Tampa Bay postseason teams.

• Despite playing in only 602 Rays games (through Friday), Diaz ranks on the franchise top-10 lists for a number of counting stats: hits (639, seventh), RBIs (288, 10th), runs (328, eighth), singles (443, seventh), doubles (126, seventh), walks (297, sixth), total bases (972, ninth), times on base (957, eighth).

• His current .376 on-base percentage as a Ray ranks second to Fred McGriff's .380 and his .816 OPS fifth, but Diaz's OPS+ (adjusted for league and ballpark, with 100 the average) is a franchise-best 130.

By baseball-reference.com's bWAR, the top players in Rays franchise history are Longoria (51.2), Crawford (35.6), Zobrist (35.3), Kiermaier (31.7), Price (21.2), Shields (20.0), Carlos Peña (18.1), Scott Kazmir (16.5), BJ Upton (15.6) and Brandon Lowe (14.4). Diaz, who gets knocked down for his defense, is next at 13.5.

Fangraphs.com, using a slightly different formula for fWAR, has Longoria (48.1), Crawford (36.9), Zobrist (33.1), Shields (24), Kiermaier (23.6), Upton (22.5), Price (21.9), Kazmir (15.8), Peña (14.1) and Lowe (13.6), with Diaz at 13.5.

Starter Aaron Civale called Diaz "a catalyst." Manager Kevin Cash referenced his consistency and referred to him as an "on-base machine." Outfielder Jose Siri pointed out "he's a great hitter." Starter Zach Eflin said he was "incredible" and noted "he means so much to this team."

At the 2018 winter meetings when the Rays acquired Diaz from Cleveland, where he'd spent most of his time in the minors, neither side was exactly sure how it would work out.

The Rays obviously had high hopes, giving up one-time promising first baseman Jake Bauers and, for them, a hefty $5 million in a three-team trade that also included Seattle and getting reliever Cole Sulser.

Diaz, around dealing with injuries, got comfortable with the team and himself, emerging as a productive leadoff hitter with a consistent approach and an eye for getting on base. Last season he flexed his massive muscles and added the long-sought power component, hitting 22 homers while winning the batting crown. This year, he has battled back from a slow start (.211 with a .556 OPS through May 1, .243/.670 through June 1) to reach .274/.721 on Friday.

"I give credit to the team for giving me the opportunity," Diaz said Friday night, via team interpreter Manny Navarro. "And Kevin Cash for giving me the confidence in being able to play every day. I thank God for that."

Solondz jammed up Radio broadcaster Neil Solondz found himself in quite a tight spot after Tuesday's game.

Driving to his North Pinellas home with wife Sari, he dropped his phone under the car seat. Once in the driveway, Solondz reached far down between the seat and console for the phone, and his right wrist got stuck.

He had to call 911 to free him. Paramedics used inflated blood pressure cuffs to shift the seat cushion, then loosened the floor bolt to move the seat.

"Super embarrassing," Solondz said Friday, his wrist still bruised. "More embarrassing than painful."

Deadlines, deadlines Dominican Republic prosecutors reportedly are facing a Friday deadline to present formal accusations against Wander Franco, stemming from his alleged relationship with a minor girl that has kept him away from the team since mid August. ... After several delays, the St. Petersburg City Council vote on the new Rays stadium and Gas Plant District redevelopment plan is now officially scheduled for July 18 . That is the first of two steps for final approval, with the Pinellas County Commission vote expected sometime after.

Rays rumblings

After his record was broken Friday , Bartlett texted head home clubhouse/equipment manager Tyler Wall to pass on his congratulations to Diaz and the message: "Hope it lasts for a long time." ... A social media post last week claiming Franco, who is on administrative leave, was working out at a Rays facility was quickly dismissed as false. Dominican journalist Mike Rodriguez the next day posted video of Franco taking batting practice in his hometown of Bani. ... Sports Illustrated's SI.com gave the City Connect uniforms some major love with a No. 1 ranking among the 28 participating teams: "There's the Mona Lisa, the Sistine Chapel and the Tampa Bay Rays' City Connect uniforms." ... Per early versions of the 2025 schedule circulating among teams and league officials, the Rays will open at home against Colorado and Pittsburgh and finish at Toronto. ... The Rays' All-Star(s) could be chosen in the vote by players for reserves and pitchers, or by MLB officials as they fill out the rosters and make sure all teams are represented. And to think, last year they had four All-Stars, with Randy Arozarena and Diaz starting. ... Centerfielder Jose Siri spent Thursday's off-day at Busch Gardens riding Gwazi and other roller coasters, saying "It's good for your stress." ... The team on Wednesday staged its first Casino Night fundraiser since pre-COVID, with rave reviews and proceeds to the Rays Baseball Foundation. ... ESPN SportsCenter's hosts still find it funny to say the Rays play in Tampa, then later acknowledge it's St. Petersburg.

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