Chicago White Sox's Austin Slater rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians in Chicago, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Austin Slater has been selected by the Tampa Bay Rays as they are set to face a slew of left-handed starting pitchers against the Boston Red Sox and a lefty-heavy bullpen over the weekend in Los Angeles against the Angels.

The Rays today selected he right-handed hitting outfielder Austin Slater to the roster and optioned infielder Oliver Dunn to their Triple-A affiliate Durham Bulls. To make room on the 40-man roster, Tampa Bay transferred right handed pitcher Jon Heasley (right elbow stress reaction) from the 15-day to the 60-day injured list.

Slater, elected free agency after being designated by the New York Mets on May 19, 2026 and signed with the Rays on May 27, 2026. In 6 games with Durham he hit .348 (8×23) with a homer.

This season he has appeared in 12 games with the Miami Marlins and nine games with the Mets with a combined slash line of .209/.286/.233. His career spans parts of 12 season where he has a slash line of .247/.335/.380 while making starts at all three outfield positions and first base.

In his career he has fared considerably better against left-handed pitching (.772 OPS) than he has against right-handed pitching (.643 OPS). He’s expected to make his first start with the Rays tonight against Boston lefty Connelly Early (5-3, 3.26 ERA).