Willy Adames' first stint in the major leagues ended as planned Thursday night when he was optioned back to Triple-A Durham at the end of his planned three-game cameo filling in for new father Joey Wendle.

Adames said going back down was "tough" even though he knew the plan, but the overall experience was a tremendous positive that will help him improve now and make him a better player when he returns, hopefully soon, for good.

"These three days gave me a taste of being around the big leagues, of being around the guys over here, getting to know them a little more," Adames said. "It's going to be good for me. Already, I have done good things (such as his Tuesday homer) and bad things (such as his Wednesday error) on the field. It's going to make me make me more mature for next time I come back if something happens. This is going to help me be the same guy in any situation."

Adames went 2-for-12 in the three games, striking out six times, making the one costly error but several impressive plays at shortstop with his glove and his arm.

Adames, 22, said the chance to face top pitchers such as Chris Sale, David Price and Craig Kimbrel provided great perspective after only seeing them on TV (or in spring training) and will something he can share with the other players at Durham.

"This experience has been pretty good for me," he said. "It calmed me down. When you're in Triple-A and you're that close you want to be here. I got here. I played three games now. I'm calm now. I know more of the guys over here. I know what to do on the field.

"You've got to slow things down when you get here. Those first two days for me were pretty fast. Today I relaxed myself, tried to be myself, not to do anything more."

Adames seems certain to stay in the minors at least into mid-June, to get safely past the unofficial cutoff to be eligible for the extra and early year of arbitration eligibility as a Super 2. Such status could earn a player, and cost a team, more than $10-million, and maybe closer to $20-million, if he is a star. Or it could be into July, giving the Rays time to trade current, albeit injured, shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria.

Manager Kevin Cash said they sure liked what they saw.

"He's a young player we've got to see a lot in spring training but this is a different animal when you play up here, the intensity, the speed of the game," Cash said.

"The arm strength he showed, and every at-bat he had. He hit the home run and I know he had some strikeouts sprinkled in there, but he looks the part. He goes up there, he looks like he's going to do damage. He wants to be up there.

"There's a lot to be excited about with him."