Rays call up McKay for Major League debut

ST. PETERSBURG -- Brendan McKay was standing in the Rays’ clubhouse on Friday night, his nameplate on his locker and his No. 49 uniform hanging below it.

Tampa Bay’s top pitching prospect was surrounded by what fellow pitcher Blake Snell called “the most media I’ve ever seen in here,” fielding questions about his recent promotion from a semicircle three deep all the way around.

It was one day after McKay’s Triple-A manager announced -- in front of the entire Bulls’ team -- that McKay was headed to The Show, and his Durham teammates surrounded him with high-fives and hugs. It was nearly 24 hours after a joyful FaceTime conversation with his parents, during which he told them they’d need to switch up their travel plans: He was being called up to the Major Leagues.

McKay's debut in the Rays' 5-2 win over the Rangers on Saturday in St. Petersburg could hardly have gone better. The talented lefty was perfect through 5 1/3, and finished with six shutout innings, allowing one hit and one walk against three strikeouts.

While narrating his past 24 hours, McKay took a moment to himself and smiled before admitting the big league promotion still just didn’t seem real.

If not now though, when?

“I would say going out to the mound, hearing the national anthem, stepping onto the mound and taking [my] first warmup pitch,” McKay said. “That’s when [I’m] going to realize it’s happening.”

With the Rays having to use Ryan Yarbrough during their 5-2, 18-inning win over the Twins on Thursday, they were left with a hole in their rotation that will be filled by McKay, at least for two starts. The left-hander plans to make the most of every minute.

“We’re pumped,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said Friday on MLB Network Radio. “I’m pumped. We’re all pumped. We’re pumped as an organization.”

Pumped enough that McKay’s debut on Saturday will not be his only shot during this callup. Cash confirmed on Friday that McKay will get “a couple times through the rotation,” which would also line up Tampa Bay’s No. 2 prospect to pitch on Friday against the Yankees.

In five games (four starts) with Triple-A Durham, McKay is 3-0 with 1.08 ERA over 25 innings, with 26 strikeouts and just six walks. Including eight appearances with Double-A Montgomery, his ERA in the Minors this season is 1.22.

McKay, the No. 4 overall pick in the 2017 Draft, has not only been one of the top pitchers in the Minors this season, but he has also shown improvement at the plate since being promoted to Triple-A. Drafted as a two-way player, McKay is hitting .265 with a .951 OPS in 60 plate appearances with the Bulls this season.

After what he called a “fair wait,” McKay has earned his position through hard work and impressive numbers. Though drafted just two years ago, the young lefty’s rise has been steady and his philosophy simple.

“If you put yourself in a position to move [up], [you] just force it upon the club to take that action and move you with the results that you put up,” he said.

While McKay is being called up as a pitcher, Cash did not rule out the possibility of using the left-hander as a hitter, if the situation presents itself.

“There are a lot of people that have talked about his development. It’s a very unique case,” Cash said. “There’s a lot of unknowns, and we’re learning on the fly. He’s on the roster, so I don’t know why he won’t be available to hit throughout the time that he’s on our roster, but we’re just going to have to see how a lot of it unfolds.”

The Rays will ultimately be careful with McKay, who projects to be one of their key pieces moving forward. McKay pitched just 78 1/3 innings in 2018 and is already at 66 2/3 this season.

“Credit to him for what he’s done, his progress, and what he’s done at Double-A and Triple-A,” Cash said. “We’re excited to have him pick up a big spot for us on Saturday, and come in and hopefully do what he’s continued to do. If he matches the success he’s had in Double-A and Triple-A, we should be in a pretty good spot.”

As far as advice the organization offered McKay -- MLB’s No. 23 prospect overall -- Cash said he kept the chat short and sweet.

“‘Go be yourself,’” Cash said. “Every pitcher is good, they get here a different way, and he’s going to have his own way and we don’t want to get in the way of that. ‘Just go pitch and do your thing.’”

In order to make room for McKay on the 40-man roster, the Rays designated 2013 first-round Draft pick Nick Ciuffo for assignment. Ciuffo hit .186 in 43 career at-bats at the big league level.

Alvarado reinstated, Beeks sent down

The Rays also made other key moves to the active roster prior to Friday’s game. Most notably, reliever Jose Alvarado was reinstated from the 40-man roster after being away from the team since June 2. Alvarado initially traveled to Venezuela to take care of his ailing mother, who he said has since recovered.

Despite the long absence from Major League games, Alvarado was confident he hadn’t missed a step. He has been on a throwing program at the Rays’ Spring Training facility since June 16.

“It’s been almost a month, but I think I’ve maintained my strength,” Alvarado said through a translator. “And I’m back, and I’m just ready to go back and do work for this team.”

Alvarado, who has a 3.09 ERA and six saves in 26 appearances this season, is the top option in the Rays' bullpen, and his addition will be welcomed by a group that has struggled over the last month.

In order to make room for Alvarado, the Rays optioned left-hander Jalen Beeks to Durham. Beeks, acquired last July from the Red Sox, has been a key bulk guy for the Rays this season and pitched 3 1/3 scoreless innings in Thursday’s win. With left-handed pitchers McKay and Yarbrough now on the roster, Beeks became a likely option to get sent down until the Rays’ bullpen is able to return to full strength.

The Rays also recalled right-handed pitcher Casey Sadler and optioned infielder Mike Brosseau.