The Tampa Bay Rays new manager held his first news conference on “home turf” Monday with only 72 days before catchers and pitchers report for Spring Training.
Sitting at a table under the glare of TV lights, Tampa native Kevin Cash told reporters he expects the reality of becoming a Major League manager will hit him as soon as the news conference concludes.
“I’m tired of wearing the suit. I’m tired of having all these bright lights. I’m sacred half to death that my 2-year-old is going to break a $250,000 camera back there,” Cash said. “So, that will hit me as soon as I get off of this table.”
At age 37, the Tampa native is the youngest, active manager in the Major Leagues. And Cash is anxious to get in the clubhouse and start working with players, coaches and staff.
“I am extremely excited about the energy, the optimism that everybody that I’ve been fortunate enough to speak with has presented,” Cash said. “And it’s go time now. “
Cash exuded the enthusiasm that made him the top pick of Matt Silverman, the Rays new president of baseball operations, who also participated in the Tropicana Field news conference.
“All the things we thought about Kevin going into the interview process and then ultimately when we hired him have borne out already,” Silverman said. “He’s displayed the energy that we’ve talked about in every single setting. He looks to connect with people and is already forming relationships with people. And any time there was down time, he was on that phone talking to a player or coach.”
