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Rays might finally be ready to break their Buster Posey curse
TL;DR
The Tampa Bay Rays may be on the verge of overcoming their longstanding issues at catcher, often referred to as the 'Buster Posey curse.' With promising prospects like Nick Fortes, the team is hopeful for a brighter future at the position.
Key points
- Tampa Bay Rays have struggled at the catcher position.
- Buster Posey is linked to the franchise's catching issues.
- Nick Fortes and two top prospects may resolve these issues.
Mentioned in this story
Buster PoseyNick Fortes
Tampa Bay RaysBoston Red Sox
Rays might finally be ready to break their Buster Posey curse originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Tampa Bay Rays haven't been around in the Major Leagues for very long, so it's no surprise that there's a lack of all-time greats who've played for them.
But that doesn't mean the Rays don't have some franchise legends. Or, someone who "cursed" the franchise just like the Boston Red Sox with Babe Ruth. Buster Posey is the player for the Rays with their catcher position issues.
However, those issues might finally be behind them. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic highlighted how Nick Fortes and the Rays' two top catcher prospects might finally have the Posey curse behind the Rays.
Rays might finally put Buster Posey curse behind them
"Catcher Nick Fortes is off to a good start with the Tampa Bay Rays, batting .304 with a .790 OPS," Rosenthal writes. "If he can't entirely solve 'The Curse of Buster Posey,' perhaps he can point the Rays in the right direction at a position that has long haunted them."
Fortes has played well in his Rays tenure, posting a mediocre .655 last season in 38 games after the trade deadline, but a .790 OPS this season through 14 games.
Add in intriguing catching prospects Nathan Flewelling and Caden Bodine, and the Rays might finally be on track to put this Posey curse behind them.
It all began in 2008, when the Rays took shortstop Tim Beckham over Posey with the first overall pick. Posey went on to be a potential Hall of Famer, while Beckham posted 3.9 career bWAR.
Q&A
What is the Buster Posey curse affecting the Tampa Bay Rays?
The Buster Posey curse refers to the Rays' struggles at the catcher position, linked to their inability to find a consistent and impactful player since Posey's success.
Who are the top catcher prospects for the Rays mentioned in the article?
The article highlights Nick Fortes and two other top catcher prospects as key players who may help the Rays move past their catching issues.
How have the Rays' catching issues impacted their performance in the MLB?
The Rays' catching struggles have hindered their ability to compete effectively, similar to how the Red Sox were affected by their own historical curse.
