A Healthy Season Would Go A Long Way For Rays’ Cooper Kinney
The Rays drafted Cooper Kinney with their second pick in the 2021 draft.
With its first, Tampa Bay selected high school shortstop Carson Williams, who today stands as the organization’s No. 1 prospect. Williams opened the season at Triple-A Durham and has a shot to make his MLB debut this summer.
Kinney has gotten off to a slower start since. He missed all of 2022 and a good chunk of 2024 to right shoulder injuries that required labrum surgery. This season, the 22-year-old second baseman is seeing his first action above Class A by opening at Double-A Montgomery.
Reunited with Williams for the Rays’ Spring Breakout game against the Red Sox, Kinney showed his hitting potential by rapping three hits in the Rays’ 7-5 win.
“I need a full, healthy year, and I feel like I can just do what I do,” Kinney said. “First off, just stay healthy. That’s what’s got to happen first. And I’m excited to get to go play.
“I feel great. Body feels good, so I’m excited to get going.’’
Kinney realizes that the injuries changed the path of his career.
“It’s not exactly how I was hoping (my career) would start,” Kinney said. “But I’m coming along, and getting to play every day is an awesome experience. Getting to be in this organization where everybody’s good and everybody’s talented, it’s been a blast.’’
Kinney said the Spring Breakout game was “a great experience” all around. He especially enjoyed getting to team up again with Williams, who went 2-for-4 with a homer.
“It’s been a few years since I played with him, but I love playing with him,” Kinney said. “He’s a great guy.’’
Last season, Kinney appeared in 87 games for High-A Bowling Green and hit .289/.352/.494 with 10 home runs and six stolen bases. He plays mostly second base, while seeing some time at third base.
The Rays drafted the lefthanded hitter 34th overall out of Baylor School in Chattanooga.
