Kinney (shoulder) is listed as an available bench player for Thursday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Kinney's inclusion on the lineup card is an indication that he's back to full health after finishing the 2024 season on High-A Bowling Green's injured list due to a right shoulder issue. Before being shut down with the injury, the 22-year-old infielder slashed .289/.352/.494 with 10 home runs and six stolen bases across 361 plate appearances with Bowling Green.
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Rays' Cooper Kinney: Finishes year on IL
Rotowire
High-A Bowling Green placed Kinney on the 7-day injured list Sept. 6 with an undisclosed injury.
It's unclear what injury Kinney is dealing with, but he missed a little over three weeks with an undisclosed injury in August that also required a stint on the IL, so this latest issue may have been an aggravation. Injuries have already played a big role in Kinney's career, as shoulder surgery cost him all of 2022. Kinney was solid at Single-A in 2023 (110 wRC+), but he hit for significantly more power in his second season since the surgery. Kinney slashed .289/.352/.494 with 10 homers, 32 doubles, six steals and a 22.2 percent strikeout rate in 87 games for the Hot Rods. A lefty hitter who played the majority of his games at second base, Kinney does not project to offer positive defensive value, so he'll need to carry over his offensive success next year in his Double-A debut.
