The Tampa Bay Rays released designated hitter and outfielder Eloy Jimenez from his minor league contract, as reported by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. Jimenez, a former Silver Slugger award winner, had been on the Triple-A injured list with right Achilles tendinitis for the second time this season. The 28-year-old struggled to regain his form with the Rays’ top affiliate, the Durham Bulls, where he appeared in 40 games, hitting .278/.335/.397 with three home runs and 29 RBIs over 167 plate appearances.
Jimenez signed a minor league deal with the Rays in December 2024, hoping to revive his career after a challenging 2024 season split between the Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles, where he posted a .238/.289/.336 slash line. Despite showing a strong 49% hard-hit rate, his power output declined significantly, and injuries continued to hamper his performance. The Rays, known for revitalizing players, took a low-risk gamble on Jimenez, but his ground ball rate and persistent injuries limited his impact.
The release marks another chapter in Jimenez’s injury-plagued career, which has seen him play over 100 games in a season only twice since his 2019 debut. With a career .270/.319/.465 slash line and 95 home runs, the former top prospect still holds potential. Jimenez now enters free agency, where he may attract interest from other MLB teams or international leagues like NPB or KBO.
