Vidal Bruján Injury News & Updates

The Rays traded Brujan to the Marlins alongside Calvin Faucher on Friday in exchange for Erick Lara, Andrew Lindsey and a player to be named later or cash.

Brujan struggled during his multiple stints in the majors last season, but he put up a solid .272/.362/.477 slash line across 276 plate appearances in Triple-A. The 25-year-old will give the Marlins an organizational depth piece capable of fielding nearly every position.

Brujan was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Manuel Margot (elbow) is coming off the 10-day injured list in a corresponding roster move. Brujan, 25, has put up intriguing offensive numbers throughout the minors, but he holds a career .157/.218/.221 batting line in 272 plate appearances at the big-league level.

Brujan was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan continues to go back-and-forth between Durham and Tampa Bay but has really struggled during his time in the majors this season with a lowly .461 OPS. He'll provide manager Kevin Cash with some versatility.

The Rays optioned Brujan to Triple-A Durham on Sunday.

Brujan will head back to Triple-A to clear a spot on the 26-man active roster for lefty Jalen Beeks, who was recalled from Durham in a corresponding move to give the Rays a fresh arm out of the bullpen for Sunday's series finale with the Tigers. During his two-week stint with the Rays, Brujan appeared in five games and logged just three at-bats.

Brujan was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan is taking the roster spot vacated by Taylor Walls (oblique) and could see some starts while Walls is out, particularly versus left-handers. He's posted a lowly .486 OPS during his time in the big leagues in 2023.

Brujan was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Brujan will head to Tacoma after being called up June 5, batting .176 average with two doubles, two RBI, four runs and two stolen bases over 34 at-bats in 12 games. He'll look to regroup in Triple-A and attempt to earn another promotion later this season.

Brujan went 2-for-3 with one double, one run scored and two steals in Saturday's loss to Kansas City.

Brujan was demoted to the minors in late April after going 5-for-20 (.250) with seven strikeouts and zero extra-base hits but returned to the big leagues on June 5. Saturday's performance was his best since the call-up, posting his first multi-hit effort of the stint while collecting his first and second stolen base of the campaign. Though Brujan is slashing a lowly .227/.261/.250, he'll continue to see action for as long as Brandon Lowe (back) is on the shelf.

Brujan was called up from Triple-A Durham on Monday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Brujan will return to the Rays after he was sent down May 25, replacing Brandon Lowe (back), who was placed on the 10-day injured list Monday. Brujan has produced a .250 average with three RBI and five runs scored over 20 at-bats with Tampa Bay this season and could be asked to fill in at second base while Lowe is unavailable.

Brujan will join the Rays in Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brandon Lowe (back) and Wander Franco (hamstring) are both banged up, so Brujan will at the very least be added to the taxi squad and potentially the active roster. The speedster is 5-for-20 at the plate during his time with the big club this season.

Brujan was optioned to Triple-A Durham by the Rays on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan's latest stint in the majors lasted just one day. The Rays are sending him down in order to bring up a fresh relief arm.

Tampa Bay recalled Brujan from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Brujan has registered a .759 OPS with four home runs and six stolen bases in 97 at-bats with Durham in 2023. The 25-year-old will provide some depth with the ability to play all over the field while he's with the Rays.

The Rays optioned Brujan to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan will return to the minors to open up a spot on the 26-man active roster for outfielder Jose Siri (hamstring), who was reinstated from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Astros. During his latest stint in the majors, Brujan appeared in 11 games and went 5-for-20 with five runs and three RBI.

The Rays recalled Brujan from Triple-A Durham on Saturday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Brujan replaces Jose Siri after Siri was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain. The former top prospect has posted just a .439 OPS in 62 career games with the Rays, and will likely see inconsistent playing time while he's on the major-league roster.

The Rays optioned Brujan to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan appeared in 17 games this spring, producing a disappointing .118 average with a double, an RBI, four runs scored and four stolen bases over 34 at-bats. Considering how much he struggled at the plate, it's not overly surprising that the 25-year-old will start the season with Durham. The switch-hitter played in 52 games with the Rays in 2022, batting .163 with three homers, 16 RBI, 13 runs and five stolen bases over 162 at-bats. He'll look to get his bat right in Triple-A before making the leap back to the major-league level at some point in 2023.

Brujan was removed from Friday's Grapefruit League game after being hit by a pitch, but he did not sustain a serious injury, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan was hit by a pitch in the shoulder in the fourth inning. He stayed in the game initially but was ultimately pulled as a precaution after feeling a "shock sensation" in his hand. However, after the contest manager Kevin Cash said Brujan was fine. Brujan will be fighting for a bench role with the big-league club this spring, but he has only one hit in eight at-bats to this point.

Brujan went 1-for-2 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Red Sox.

Brujan was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Monday and appeared in all three of the Rays' games to close the regular season. He entered the game Wednesday in the fifth inning as a pinch runner and then remained in the contest to take Ryan Brasier yard to tally his third homer of the season. Brujan struggled across 162 plate appearances, maintaining just a .163/.228/.259 line with five stolen bases.

The Rays recalled Brujan from Triple-A Durham on Monday.

Brujan will join the 28-man active roster as a replacement for another utility player in Miles Mastrobuoni, who was optioned to Durham in a corresponding move. After being optioned to Durham on Sept. 7, Brujan finished the Triple-A season by slashing .268/.325/.380 with 11 stolen bases in 16 games, but he's unlikely to be anything more than a depth player while he's up with Tampa Bay for the final three games of the regular season.

Brujan (undisclosed) was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

Brujan sustained a minor injury Monday against the Rays, but he should be back to full health since he was demoted rather than being placed on the injured list. Over three games during his week in the big leagues, he went 0-for-1 with a run and a stolen base. Brandon Lowe (triceps/elbow) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Wednesday.

Brujan was spiked in Monday's game against the Red Sox but he should be OK, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

He appeared as a pinch hitter and was then spiked and exited the game after one plate appearance. It sounds like he is at-worst day-to-day, and given that Brujan is a bench player, an absence from the lineup wouldn't necessarily mean he is injured. He has yet to start a game since getting recalled on Aug. 31.

Brujan was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.

Brujan headed to the minors in early July and slashed .302/.378/.460 with four homers, 28 runs, 14 RBI and nine stolen bases over 31 games following his demotion. The 24-year-old should serve as a utility man for the big-league club after Brandon Lowe (triceps) was placed on the 15-day injured list.

Brujan was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.

Brujan lost out on regular playing time in late June and early July, and his demotion should allow him to see more regular at-bats as he continues to work on developing. The 24-year-old has appeared in 46 games with the Rays to begin the year and has slashed .167/.230/.246 with two homers, 15 RBI, 11 runs and four stolen bases. Taylor Walls should serve as the primary second baseman until Brandon Lowe (back) is cleared to return.

Brujan remains out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Blue Jays, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan is on the bench for the fourth game in a row and looks to have moved into a utility role in the wake of Isaac Paredes seizing hold of a regular lineup spot and with Wander Franco and Kevin Kiermaier recently returning from the injured list. Taylor Walls looks like he'll serve as the Rays' primary second baseman over Brujan until Brandon Lowe (back) comes off the IL.

Brujan went 1-for-4 with a stolen base in Thursday's 4-1 loss in Toronto.

Brujan singled and stole second base in the seventh. He is now 4-for-9 on stolen base attempts on the season. The 24-year-old continues to struggle at the plate and finished June with a .182/.247/.299 in 85 plate appearances.

Brujan is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Brewers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

With Wander Franco recently making his return from the 10-day injured list, the Rays no longer have regular spots in the infield available for both Brujan and Taylor Walls. Brujan and Walls are thus likely to share time moving forward, with the latter getting the nod at the keystone in the series opener.

Brujan went 1-for-4 with a walk, two RBI and a run scored Saturday against the Pirates.

Brujan delivered a two-RBI single in the bottom of the first inning. He then walked in the final frame before coming around to score the game-winning run on a base hit by Isaac Paredes. Brujan will find it more difficult to get regular playing time with Wander Franco (quadriceps) expected back Sunday, but he has seemingly started to find his footing at the big-league level by collecting six hits in his last 24 at-bats with a home run, five RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base.

Brujan went 0-for-2 with a run scored and his third stolen base of the season in Friday's 4-3 extra-inning win over the Pirates.

Jonathan Arenda got the start at second base, but Brujan pinch hit for him in the sixth inning and stayed at the keystone, eventually stealing third base in the 10th inning as the phantom runner before coming home with the winning run on a Harold Ramirez single. Brujan has been seeing consistent playing time in June due to numerous injuries around the diamond for the Rays, but the 24-year-old hasn't done much with the opportunity, slashing .190/.224/.333 with two homers, two steals on five attempts, three runs and 10 RBI over 18 games.

Brujan went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional RBI in a loss to the Yankees on Wednesday.

Brujan slugged a two-run homer off Jordan Montgomery in the second inning and knocked in another run on a groundout in the fourth. This was the first multi-RBI game of his career. Brujan has posted a brutal .165/.210/.261 slash line on the season but has been a bit better in June, hitting .197 (12-for-61) with his only two homers of the season, 10 RBI and a stolen base over 17 games.

Brujan went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts Thursday against the Yankees.

With Kevin Kiermaier (Achilles) day-to-day the Rays shuffled their lineup, which allowed Brujan to appear in the leadoff spot for the first time this season and the second time of his career. Despite getting regular playing time, Brujan has struggled to get going at the plate by hitting just .144 across 105 plate appearances on the campaign. Equally concerning is that he has struggled on the basepaths, managing only two stolen bases on six attempts.

Brujan is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Brujan will give way to Isaac Paredes at the keystone after starting in each of the Rays' last six games while going 5-for-22 with a home run, a double, a stolen base and five RBI. Though the 24-year-old switch hitter is slowly starting to settle in at the plate, he's still maintaining a poor .157/.206/.236 slash line at the big-league level in 2022.

Brujan went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 9-4 loss to the Twins.

Getting the start in right field and batting fifth, Brujan ripped his first homer of the season to left in the seventh inning off Devin Smeltzer. The 24-year-old continues to see regular playing time in a utility role while Brandon Lowe (back) and Wander Franco (quadriceps) are on the shelf, but he hasn't exactly seized his opportunity -- Brujan has started 11 of the last 12 games but has only a .171/.225/.314 slash line to show for it.

Brujan went 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI on Wednesday against the Cardinals.

Brujan delivered an RBI double in the opening inning and followed that up by driving in another run on a single in the sixth frame. It was both Brujan's first multi-hit and multi-RBI performance of the season. Given that, it's unsurprising that he is hitting just .147/.205/.200 across 83 plate appearances on the campaign. Despite his struggles, Brujan has started 12 of the last 14 games.

Brujan is not in Sunday's lineup against the White Sox.

With Taylor Walls (calf) returning to action, the Rays aren't quite as short-handed as they had been for the past few days. Brujan is hitting .148 over his last 10 games.

Brujan went 1-for-2 with a walk, a run scored and an RBI on Monday against the Rangers.

Brujan reached base on multiple occasions for the first time in 15 starts this season. He's maintained a miserable .137/.196/.176 line across 56 plate appearances, and his inability to reach base has limited his ability to showcase his speed on the basepaths. Despite his struggles, Brujan has been in the lineup for 12 of 15 contests since May 14 thanks to the absence of Brandon Lowe (back).

Brujan isn't starting Saturday against the Yankees, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Brujan started in the last three games and went 2-for-9 with three strikeouts. Taylor Walls will take over at the keystone while Brett Phillips enters the lineup in right field Saturday.

Brujan is out of the lineup for Tuesday's game against the Marlins, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Wander Franco's (quadriceps) return from a two-game absence looks like it'll knock Brujan out of the lineup, as the Rays will roll out an infield of Ji-Man Choi, Taylor Walls, Isaac Paredes and Franco to begin a two-game series with Miami. Playing time will likely only be more difficult to come by for Brujan if Yandy Diaz (shoulder) -- who is on the bench Tuesday for the second game in a row -- is able to avoid a stint on the 10-day injured list.

Brujan will sit Friday against the Orioles, Roch Kubatko of MASNSports.com reports.

Brujan has been the primary beneficiary of Brandon Lowe's back injury, as he'd started five straight games prior to Friday's contest. He's done very little with his 30 plate appearances this season, hitting .111/.200/.185, but his 10.0 percent strikeout rate is encouraging and he's attempted three steals, albeit with only one successful robbery. Isaac Paredes will be the second baseman Friday.

Brujan went 1-for-4 and was caught stealing Monday against the Tigers.

Brujan should be locked into a consistent role at second base with Brandon Lowe (back) on the injured list. Brujan hit fifth Monday, and his lone knock was a single to lead off the seventh frame. Earlier in the contest, he had reached base on a fielder's choice and was caught attempting to steal for the second time this season. He's now just 1-for-3 on the basepaths, a concerning trend given that stolen bases are his primary path to fantasy value. Brujan has done little else of note with his playing time, posting just a .143/.182/.238 line across 22 plate appearances. On the positive side, he has maintained a 9.1 percent strikeout rate.

Brujan will start at second base and bat fifth in Monday's game against the Tigers, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan will stick in the lineup for the fifth time in six games, with three of those starts coming at the keystone. Brandon Lowe should be the Rays' primary option at the keystone moving forward, but he may be dealing with a lingering injury at the moment, given that he'll be out of the lineup Monday for the second time in three days. If Lowe quickly moves past the injury, Brujan would still have a potential path to playing time in right field after Manuel Margot (hamstring) was placed on the injured list Sunday.

Brujan went 1-for-4 with a double, a run scored, an RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 4-2 extra-inning win over the Angels.

After going 0-for-3 in regulation, Brujan stepped up in the 10th for the Rays. The rookie ripped his first career extra-base hit into the left-field corner to bring home Kevin Kiermaier for the game-winning run, then swiped third and added an insurance tally on a Harold Ramirez single. Brujan has started two straight games since his promotion Tuesday, one in right field and one at second base, and while he may not have the bat to be an everyday player in the long run, if he can keep contributing with his speed and versatility, Tampa Bay will find playing time for him.

Brujan went 0-for-3 with a strikeout Tuesday against the Angels.

Brujan was recalled prior to Tuesday's game with Manuel Margot (hamstring) day-to-day. Brujan started in right field and hit eighth, though later played third base and showcased versatility that could help him pick up regular at-bats in the short term. He's spent the majority of his season with Triple-A Durham but is now hitless in six at-bats with the Rays.

Brujan was recalled by the Rays on Tuesday and will bat eighth and play right field against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan has spent the bulk of this season with Triple-A Durham, spending just two days on the big-league roster. He's gone 0-for-3 at the major-league level but has hit .300/.400/.467 with six steals and as many walks as strikeouts in 16 Triple-A games. He can play all around the diamond and could fill in at multiple spots if he's allowed to stick around, but for now he'll cover for Manuel Margot in the outfield, who's day-to-day with hamstring discomfort. Calvin Faucher was optioned to clear space on the roster.

Brujan was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Monday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Brujan was brought up to the big leagues Saturday and went 0-for-3 at the dish with a walk in one game during his brief stint with Tampa Bay. Jeffrey Springs (COVID-19) takes his spot on the active roster after being activated from the injured list.

Brujan was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Saturday.

Brujan did not break camp with the Rays, but he will join the roster a few weeks into the season and take the spot of Yandy Diaz (illness). It remains to be seen what role Brujan will fill, but at the least he will provide depth at the three infield spots left of first base.

Brujan (knee) is in the lineup for Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan has been sidelined since April 6 with knee soreness but is back on the field Tuesday. The 24-year-old received his first taste of the big leagues last year and is likely to receive another opportunity at some point in 2022 as one of the organization's top prospects.

Brujan hasn't appeared in a minor-league game since April 6 due to knee soreness but is expected to return soon, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan missed out on a spot on the Rays' Opening Day roster and hasn't had the chance to make his case for playing time in the minors, as he appeared in just two games before being sidelined for nearly two weeks. Once healthy, he shouldn't be too far from a call-up, as he can play all over the diamond and hit .262/.345/.440 in 103 Triple-A games last season, though the fact that he wasn't on the Opening Day roster may mean it will take an injury ahead of him to open up a roster spot.

The Rays optioned Brujan to minor-league camp Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Given that he turned in a lowly .154 OPS in 26 plate appearances in his first taste of the big leagues in 2021 before finishing the season at Triple-A Durham, Brujan's demotion comes as little surprise. The toolsy, switch-hitting 24-year-old remains one of the Rays' top prospects and likely doesn't need much further refinement in the minors, but Tampa Bay's wealth of infield and outfield talent may force Brujan to wait a little longer before getting his next trial with the big club. If he's able to take hold of a regular role with Tampa Bay at some point in 2022, Brujan would offer intriguing stolen-base upside, after swiping 44 bags in 52 attempts at Triple-A last season.

Brujan has gone 13-for-39 (.333) with five doubles, six steals, seven RBI, seven runs and a 6:4 BB:K since being sent back to Triple-A Durham.

After he uncharacteristically struck out a bunch in his short cup of coffee with the Rays, Brujan's plate discipline has looked better than ever back at Durham. The over-the-fence power he showed earlier this year is still missing in action, but Brujan's main appeal has always been his excellent on-base ability and elite wheels -- a rare combo in today's game. Where he ultimately fits in for the Rays is an open question, but it's worth noting that Brujan -- a second baseman by trade -- has seen time at shortstop, third base and all three outfield positions this year. Fantasy-wise, he could certainly benefit from an offseason trade to another organization, as the Rays' roster and pipeline are fairly crowded at practically every single one of those positions. Nonetheless, whether it's in Tampa or elsewhere, he should break in as a full-time major leaguer by next year.

Brujan was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Steve Carney of Sports Radio 620 WDAE reports.

Brujan appeared in 10 games with the major-league club after he was called up July 7, but he hit just .077 with three runs, two RBI, a stolen base and eight strikeouts. He should reclaim an everyday role in the minors and will have a chance to right the ship before a potential return to the big-league roster at some point during the second half of the season.

Brujan will start at second base and bat second Wednesday against the Orioles, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan lacks a clear path to an everyday role due to the bevy of talent in the infield and outfield, but his defensive versatility has helped him capture a part-time gig since getting the call back from Triple-A Durham on July 9. He'll pick up his third start in four games in the series finale after going 1-for-4 with two runs and an RBI in Tuesday's 9-3 win.

Brujan was recalled by the Rays on Friday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

Brujan has had a busy few days. He was called up Wednesday but was merely the extra man for a doubleheader against Cleveland, though he did appear in both contests, going 1-for-6 with a steal. He was sent back down Thursday but is back in the big leagues just one day later, with Mike Brosseau (oblique) hitting the injured list to clear a spot. Expect Brujan to feature frequently at several spots around the diamond, though he might have something short of a true everyday role.

Brujan was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Thursday.

Brujan served as the 27th man in Wednesday's doubleheader against Cleveland and went 1-for-6 with a run, an RBI, a stolen base and two strikeouts in his first taste of major-league action. The 23-year-old is a strong candidate to return to the major-league roster at some point, especially while Manuel Margot (hamstring) is sidelined. However, he'll return to the Triple-A club for now.

Brujan is starting in right field and batting fifth in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan started at the keystone in Game 1 and immediately had his impact felt, going 1-for-3 with an RBI single, run scored and stolen base. He'll showcase his defensive versatility as he moves to the outfield for the second half of the twin bill.

Brujan will make his major-league debut in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports. He will bat fifth as the second baseman.

Brujan was recalled to serve as the 27th man for the twin bill and manager Kevin Cash will take wait no time to get him into his first big-league game. While Brujan is currently slated to be with the club for just one day, the Rays could make another transaction later Wednesday to keep Brujan on the 26-man roster going forward.

Brujan was called up from Triple-A Durham Wednesday to serve as the 27th man for the doubleheader against Cleveland, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

It was reported Tuesday that Brujan would join the Rays for the doubleheader and now the move has been made official. While he's currently slated to be with the club for just the one day, it would not be surprising if Tampa Bay makes another move later Wednesday to keep him on the 26-man roster going forward, especially considering that outfielder Manuel Margot (hamstring) was placed on the injured list. Brujan, who slashed .259/.344/.471 with nine homers and 29 RBI at Durham, will be making his highly anticipated major-league debut if he's able to get into a game Wednesday.

Brujan is expected to be called up as the 27th man for Wednesday's doubleheader against Cleveland, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

While Brujan should be available for Wednesday's twin bill, he could remain on the active roster going forward since Manuel Margot (hamstring) will likely be placed on the 10-day injured list as part of a corresponding move. The 23-year-old has hit just .210 since June 1, but he's slashing .259/.344/.471 with 21 extra-base hits, 37 runs, 29 RBI and 15 stolen bases at Triple-A Durham in 2021.

Brujan could be added to the Rays' active roster in the near future, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Manuel Margot (hamstring) will likely be placed on the 10-day injured list after he left Monday's win over Cleveland, and Brujan is a strong candidate to take his spot on the 26-man roster. The Rays could wait to announce an official roster move since Tuesday's contest has been postponed, but the 23-year-old would be a versatile option for the major-league club if he's ultimately called up. Across 49 games at Triple-A Durham this year, Brujan has slashed .259/.344/.471 with nine homers, 37 runs, 29 RBI and 15 stolen bases.

Brujan owns a .305/.407/.543 slash line with four doubles, seven home runs, 21 RBI, 13 steals, 18 walks and 26 runs across 123 plate appearances at Triple-A Durham.

Fellow elite prospect Wander Franco is grabbing a lot of the spotlight in terms of Rays prospects, but as Brujan's numbers clearly indicate, he's having no trouble shining regularly against the highest level of competition in the minors. Adam Berry of MLB.com reports Brujan just received the organization's Minor League Hitter of the Month award for May, and his lauded pound-for-pound strength has already led to some surprising power displays. Brujan and Franco are regularly heading up the top of the order for the Bulls as a 1-2 punch thus far this season, the former's defensive versatility could certainly lead to him getting his first big-league promotion at some point in 2021.

Brujan went 2-for-4 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run in a win over Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday.

While teammate Wander Franco has stolen the headlines over the Bulls' first two games of the season, Brujan, a highly regarded prospect in his own right, has gotten off to just as hot a start. Wednesday's production pushed Brujan's tally at the plate to 4-for-8 over his first two games, and early indications he's capable of thriving against a higher caliber of arms after finishing his last minor-league campaign at Double-A Montgomery back in 2019.

The Rays optioned Brujan to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Brujan was among the 10 Rays sent to minor-league camp as Tampa Bay looks to narrow its active roster down to 26 ahead of Opening Day. Though he's overshadowed by organization mate Wander Franco, Brujan could be the first of the two to get the call to the big leagues thanks to his versatility. Brujan has prior experience at both middle-infield spots and third base, and he also dabbled in center field earlier in spring training.

Brujan, who has a chance to garner an Opening Day roster spot, is 2-for-6 with an RBI, a walk and a run over his first four Grapefruit League games.

The versatile 23-year-old has already logged time at second base, shortstop and center field, a testament to the defensive versatility he offers alongside a promising, high-contact bat. Brujan also brings elite speed, racking up 121 steals (129 attempts) across seven minor-league stops from 2016 to 2019. The early success at the plate this spring comes over a very small sample, but it's nevertheless a good start in an area Brujan will presumably have to distinguish himself in to stick on the Opening Day roster.

Brujan is starting in center field and batting ninth Wednesday against the Pirates, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

This is further proof that Brujan can play anywhere up the middle for the Rays -- something that could prove critical if he is to break through with the big-league club this year. Fellow prospects Wander Franco and Josh Lowe are starting at shortstop and in right field, respectively.

Brujan was named to the Rays' 40-man postseason player pool Monday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Teams in the postseason will be allowed to carry a 40-man pool, even though only 28 players will be eligible for active status at any one time. Brujan's inclusion in notable considering his elite prospect status, although it's still more likely that he doesn't see any game action. Nevertheless, Toribio notes Brujan, who's spent the season training at the Rays' alternate training site in Port Charlotte, could still benefit from being around the team in a playoff environment in anticipation of a big-league roster spot in 2021.

Brujan will join the Rays' taxi squad for the team's upcoming road trip to Washington, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

There were rumors of a callup for the 22-year-old Brujan, who is arguably the organization's top prospect behind Wander Franco. It seems Brujan will have to wait a while yet to join the major-league roster, though he will be available in an emergency against the Nats. If Brujan were to receive an official promotion at some point, he would likely be a popular pickup in fantasy leagues after he stole 48 and 55 bases in the minors in 2019 and 2018, respectively.

Brujan is projected to be part of the 60-man player pool that will report to the Rays' summer camp, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

The 22-year-old second baseman is already on the 40-man roster, and it appears he'll have a chance to continue his professional development this year even if the minor-league season is cancelled outright. Brujan has steadily progressed through the organization since beginning his career in 2016, and he posted a solid .266/.336/.391 line at Double-A Montgomery in 2019 while swiping 24 bases for the second consecutive professional stop.

The Rays optioned Brujan to Triple-A Durham on Monday.

Brujan was the most prominent of the seven prospects the Rays sent back to their minor-league camp Monday. The switch-hitting 22-year-old will head to the International League for the first time after posting a .735 OPS and stealing 48 bases between High-A Charlotte and Double-A Montgomery in 2019.