Rays promote Misner to Triple-A Durham

Kameron Misner is one step away from making it to the major leagues.

The 25-year-old Poplar Bluff native recently was promoted to the Tampa Bay Rays Triple-A affiliate in Durham, North Carolina. The Durham Bulls — made famous in the 1988 movie Bull Durham — opened the season Friday against the Norfolk (Virginia) Tides.

Misner is starting his second season in the Rays organization after being part of a trade in November 2021 with the Miami Marlins.

During spring training with the Rays, Misner hit .143 with an OPS of .393 in 12 games. He was 3 for 21 with three walks, scoring once and was a perfect 14-for-14 fielding, primarily in centerfield.

Last season, Misner hit .251 last season with an OPS of .816 in 117 games at Double-A Montgomery. He hit 16 homers and drove in 62 runs while stealing 32 bases. In 112 games in the Biscuits’ outfield in 2022 — 99 of them in centerfield — Misner had a .992 fielding percentage, committing just two errors and recording 10 assists.

The Bulls are in the Triple-A International League’s East Division, which also includes Buffalo (affiliated with the Toronto Blue Jays), Charlotte (White Sox), Jacksonville (Marlins), Lehigh Valley (Phillies), Norfolk (Orioles), Rochester (Nationals), Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (Yankees), Syracuse (Mets) and Worcester (Red Sox).

The West Division includes Memphis (Cardinals), Columbus (Guardians), Gwinnet (Braves), Indianapolis (Pirates), Iowa (Cubs), Louisville (Reds), Nashville (Brewers), Omaha (Royals), St. Paul (Twins) and Toledo (Tigers). Durham will play a six-game series in Memphis June 6-11.

The Bulls have won the Triple-A Championship and International League title each of the last two seasons.