Baz set to join Rays rotation

KANSAS CITY -- Right-hander Shane Baz is on the verge of joining the Rays’ starting rotation, and that’s a development leading manager Kevin Cash and pitching coach Kyle Snyder to be brimming with excitement.

The Rays feel Baz is ready to take his place in a rotation that has been on a nice roll since June 19. During that span, the starters have recorded a 2.50 ERA, the second-lowest mark among any MLB starting rotation in that time frame.

Enter Baz, who has been building his case at Triple-A Durham with a 1.57 ERA through five starts in June. He is scheduled to start Friday when the Rays open a weekend series at Texas.

To that end, the Rays traded veteran right-hander Aaron Civale earlier this week and opened up a rotation spot for Baz while also deepening the farm system with the acquisition of infielder Gregory Barrios.

“Shane was a big part of our future and then the [Tommy John surgery] kind of derailed him,” Cash said. “The talent is definitely there. It’s a big power fastball and he’s got a four-pitch mix. I think he’s still working his way back into Major League form, but what he did his last three or four outings in Durham was really encouraging.”

Baz hasn’t pitched in the Majors since 2022 but has made 10 starts in the Minors this season.

“His talent is undeniable and it’s just a matter of continuing that progression,” Snyder said. “The progress he has made over the past month really stood out. It’s time for him to show what he’s capable of up here. We’re going to be mindful of his pitch totals, the stress, recognizing that he’s on his way back from Tommy John.”

Snyder said Baz was reaching 98 to 99 mph at times in his last start at Durham and averaging 96.5 mph.

“He’s a 25-year-old kid with as much upside as probably any young right-handed starter,” Snyder added. “We’re very confident in what Shane can provide us and what he can be.”