The Rays closed out the trade deadline by dealing catcher Hunter Feduccia, who was displaced on the depth chart by the acquisition of C/1B Liam Hicks, alongside 2024 fourth rounder RHP Jacob Kmatz — a relief prospect — for left handed hitting OF Jack Suwinski.
Suwinski is the player in focus here, how popped in 2023 with a 112 wRC+ season for the Pirates in 2023, but was up and down in 2024 and 2025. He was picked up by the Dodgers and outrighted off the 40-man roster before the season started. Since
then, Suwinski has whalloped 21 homeruns with a 134 wRC+ in Triple-A for Los Angeles across 402 PA in his age-28 season.
A left handed hitting outfielder with great patience at the plate, Suwinski likely slots behind Jacob Melton on the depth chart, but adds depth to the Rays outfield.
The Rays had some foresight that a change was incoming with the catching battery, and have promoted Triple-A catcher Kenny Piper for his major league debut in Colorado, at least until Hicks is ready to take his place in the lineup.
To balance the deal, which returns Feduccia to the organization that sent him to the Rays in the first place, the Rays have included RHP Jacob Kmatz, who has a 35 K-rate across High-A and Double-A as a reliever, to add some international money for the next window.
