Rays Call Up Kenny Piper for Major League Debut

The Tampa Bay Rays have added catcher Kenny Piper to their major league roster, allowing him to make his debut on Monday evening at Coors Field against Michael Lorenzen.

Piper, 28, is batting eighth in the lineup after being called up directly from Double-A Montgomery, where he had a solid season with a .253 batting average, 11 home runs, and 11 stolen bases over 266 plate appearances. His promotion follows the trade of backup catcher Hunter Feduccia back to the Dodgers, while the Rays also designated right-hander Chase Solesky to make room for Piper.

This appearance may be a temporary one for Piper, who has spent six seasons and nearly 400 games in the minor leagues since being drafted in the 18th round. He will receive a prorated salary of $780,000 for his time in the majors, even if it is just for one game.