Kevin Gadea Catches Cash’s Eye

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla.—With all the hustle and bustle, it’s hard to make an impression on the first day of spring training.

But 22-year-old righthander Kevin Gadea, a Rule 5 draft pick from the Mariners, caught manager Kevin Cash’s eye with his poise and accuracy.

Gadea, who signed with Seattle out of Nicaragua in 2012, finished last season at low Class A Clinton. As Cash notes, not many players have ever been selected out of the low minors in the Rule 5 draft.

“For a young pitcher, watching him throw his bullpen, he seemed under control, and he filled up the strike zone,” Cash said. “You never know what he’s thinking. In fairness to him, he’s probably thinking every pitch he throws is being analyzed. It’s really not, but I can imagine the thoughts going through his head.”

Gadea had plenty of reasons to be nervous. He pitched in just 10 games in the Midwest League and had never stepped foot in big league camp.

He said that wasn’t the case.

“I just did everything I’ve been doing the last couple years,” Gadea said. “Nothing changed. I just took this day as another day at the office.”

Even if it was his first time throwing in front of a big league manager.

“I didn’t get the attention in Seattle,” he said.

Though the Rays are impressed with Gadea’s strike-throwing ability—he struck out 12.5 and walked 1.8 per nine innings last season—he is a long shot to make the roster given his lack of upper-levels experience.

But he plans to give it his best shot.

“I think a big part of my success is my confidence . . . I think that will help me a lot in spring training,” Gadea said.

Also aiding him is his locker-mate and fellow Nicaraguan Erasmo Ramirez.

“It’s going to be good,” Gadea said. “I think he’s going to help me a lot.”

COOL RAYS

• Righthanded reliever Jeff Walters signed a minor league deal just before the start of camp.

• The Rays designated knuckleballer Eddie Gamboa for assignment (and then sold him to the Rangers) to make room on the 40-man roster for righthander Nathan Eovaldi, who had Tommy John surgery in August.

— Marc Topkin covers the Rays for the Tampa Bay Times