TOWSON, Md. – Former Towson University baseball player Richie Palacios has made the Tampa Bay Rays' 2026 Opening Day roster, announced by the club on Wednesday.
 
Palacios is expected to primarily play second base in the absence of Gavin Lux to begin the season and could also get reps in the outfield.
 
After being expected to make the team out of Spring Training in 2025 before suffering a broken finger, he returned for one game on April 17 before being sidelined again with a right knee sprain. He was reinstated in September of 2025, finishing the season batting .333 with a home run, three RBIs, ten runs scored and four stolen bases in 17 games.
 
A third-round pick in 2018 by Cleveland, Palacios had an illustrious career with the Black & Gold, batting .329 with 18 home runs, 91 RBIs and 146 runs scored, adding 73 stolen bases in three seasons.
 
A two-time All-CAA selection and former CAA Rookie of the Year, the New York native also earned American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)/Rawlings All-East Region and National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) first team freshman All-American honors during his time with the Tigers.
 
Palacios is the Tigers' lone alumnus to make a 2026 Major League Baseball (MLB) Opening Day roster.