Rays Prospect Wong Picks Up First Pro RBI’s in Loss

The Gulf Coast League Rays may have a lone bright spot in the midst of an early season struggle.

The rookie-league club has lost four of their last five games to fall to 3-5 on the season, including Saturday’s 10-9 loss to the GCL Orioles at Ed Smith Stadium. Despite the slow start, the debut of Hilo native Kean Wong is enough to give the organization a glimmer of hope.

After breaking up a no-hitter to get his first professional hit on Thursday, Wong returned to the lineup Saturday and drove in his first two runs while batting 2-for-5 in the late morning ballgame. He also scored a run in the loss.

Wong’s first run batted in came in the very first inning. After teammate Riley Unroe tripled to left field, the Waiakea graduate brought him in on a ground ball out to third base, putting the Rays on top 1-0 early.

The Rays allowed a run in the bottom of the first inning to tie the game, but broke it back open with a six-run second frame. Wong contributed with a one-out single through the right side of the diamond that scored Taylor Hawkins to give the Rays a 4-1 lead. They had a 7-1 advantage after the half-inning.

After an infield pop-out in the fourth inning, he picked up another hit, this time reaching base on a single to center field in the seventh. He later scored on a wild pitch by Caleb Kellogg to give the Rays their ninth run of the game. Unfortunately, the Orioles scored six runs in the previous inning to give them 10 runs on the day.

Wong’s final at-bat was a ground out to third base to end the bottom of the eighth inning.

In two games this year, Wong is batting 3-for-8 with two RBI, a stolen base, and a run scored.

GCL Rays 160 000 200 – 9 10 3

GCL Orioles 120 016 00x – 10 14 3