5 Baseball Players who Played for Pirates and Rays
There is a good chance that if you’ve found this page then you’re playing the Immaculate Grid.
That also means that today’s grid has asked for players that have played for both the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays.
And, it also means that you’re probably stuck on this particular box and you’re looking for a little help. Sound about right so far?
Well, good news, you’re in the right place.
I’ve done some research and have found players who played on both the Pirates and Rays.
Charlie Morton
Charlie Morton is in his 16th year in the majors and is currently pitching for the Atlanta Braves. He has played for 5 different teams over his long career thus far including the Pirates, Rays, Astros and Phillies.
Morton has been a solid player throughout his career, racking up 125 wins, over 1800 strikeouts and a 4.00 ERA (as of this writing). He’s also made two All-Star appearances (Astros, Rays) and two World Series rings – Astros in 2017 and Braves in 2021.
Fun Fact: Morton has the interesting distinction of having led the league four different times in ‘Hits by Pitch’.
Matt Joyce
Matt Joyce carved out a notable career as a power-hitting outfielder and designated hitter in the majors from 2008 to 2021. He saw action with several teams, most notably the Tampa Bay Rays.
Joyce posted a career batting average of .242, hit 149 home runs, and drove in 503 runs over his career. He earned an All-Star selection with the Rays in 2011 when he had his most productive offensive season, hitting .277 with 19 home runs and 75 RBIs.
Al Martin
Al Martin played as an outfielder from 1992 to 2003. He spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but also played for the San Diego Padres, Seattle Mariners, and Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
Over his 11-year career, he batted .276 with 132 home runs and 485 RBIs. Martin was known for his consistent hitting and speed on the bases, stealing a career total of 173 bases.
He had a career-best year in 1996 with the Pirates, where he batted .300 with 18 home runs, 72 RBIs and 38 stolen bases.
Steve Pearce
Steve Pearce is a player who made a name for himself as a utility player capable of performing at various positions, most notably at first base and in the outfield.
Pearce played for several teams during his MLB career, including the Pittsburgh Pirates, Houston Astros, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays, and Boston Red Sox. However, it was with the Red Sox that he had the defining moment of his career.
After joining the Red Sox mid-season in 2018, Pearce played a crucial role in their postseason run. He was named the World Series Most Valuable Player as the Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers. Pearce had several key hits throughout the Series, including three home runs and eight RBIs.
Rich Hill
Rich Hill is an Immaculate Grid beast. The left-handed pitcher has played for 13 different clubs over his incredible 19-year career – one that is still ongoing as I’m writing this (he’s currently pitching with the Padres).
Hill’s MLB journey began when he was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in 2002. After making his major league debut in 2005, he had initial success with the Cubs, particularly in 2007 when he had a standout season. However, injuries, inconsistency, and command issues led to him bouncing around the minors and various MLB teams for several years.
After refining his pitching approach and mechanics, he experienced a career resurgence starting in 2015. At an age when many players see diminished returns, Hill became one of the most effective starters in baseball. This late-career renaissance led to stints with the Red Sox, Athletics, Dodgers, Twins, and Rays.
