Taj keeps a journal so he has a foundation of what to build on from outing to outing…He likes to keep his notes positive and logs “cons” as learning steps to improve upon…For Christmas one year, his mom got him three notebooks for different thoughts: pitching assessments, motivational quotes and off-the-field lessons...His mother, Ana Mosley, has kept notes of each of her son’s professional outings in a personalized scorebook since he debuted for Rookie-level Princeton in 2019…When she couldn’t attend in person, she followed along via streaming broadcasts…On her birthday last season, Ana made the trip from Atlanta to witness Taj help the Rays continue their historic season-opening winning streak in his major league debut...Taj didn’t begin pitching regularly until he was a high school senior…When the Rays asked him about his routines in high school after selecting him in the 2018 Draft, he said, “I don’t have anything. Just give me what you’ve got.”...Selected out of Redan (Ga.) High School, the same school that produced former All-Stars Brandon Phillips, Domonic Brown and Wally Joyner...Began pitching as a high school senior after mostly playing the outfield in his youth...Committed to the University of South Carolina before signing with the Rays…Had initially committed to Hillsborough (Fla.) Community College before flipping during his senior year.
2023
Went 5-8 with a 5.56 ERA over 22 games (21GS) in his first MLB season…Had four stints with the Rays: April 11-13, April 18-25, May 18–July 31 and Sept. 3 through the end of the season...Collected 128 SO in his 21 starts, most in Rays history through a rookie pitcher’s first 21 career starts…Also marked the fourth most through any pitcher’s first 21 starts after joining the Rays, behind Charlie Morton (152), Drew Smyly (137) and Tyler Glasnow (129)...His 128 SO as a starter mark the seventh most through an AL pitcher’s first 21 career starts over the last 10 seasons (2014-23)...Posted a 28.4 percent strikeout rate, the highest mark by a rookie in Rays history (min. 300BF)…Ranked seventh among AL pitchers with 20+ starts...He was the youngest pitcher in the Majors to make 20+ starts…Became the third pitcher (fourth instance) in Rays history to make 20+ starts in an age 22 or younger season, joining Scott Kazmir (32GS, 2005; 24GS, 2006) and Joe Kennedy (20GS, 2001)...Opponents hit .285 (81-for-284) with 19 HR against his fastballs (4-seam/cutter) compared to .181 (23-for-127) with three HR against his breaking/ offspeed pitches (curveball/changeup)...Produced a 41.3 percent whiff rate on his changeup, the seventh-highest mark on any AL pitcher’s changeup (min. 100 pitches swung at)...Excluding openers, became one of four pitchers in the expansion era (since 1961) to have zero SB attempted against him through his first 21 career starts, joining DET Tyler Alexander (2019-21), KC Yordano Ventura (2013-14) and CIN Travis Wood (2010-11)...The 1-4 spots in the opposing order hit .291 (62- for-213) vs. .212 (42-for-198) by the 5-9 spots…Held left-handed batters to a .660 OPS with five HR compared to a .941 OPS and 17 HR by righties...Went 5-3 with a 3.86 ERA (49.0IP, 21ER) over his first 10 career starts, a stretch that culminated in his first career quality start June 21 vs. BAL...Recorded eight six-plus SO performances within his first 10 career games, tied for seventh most in the majors since 1901 and one game shy of the record shared by six pitchers…On the season, went 5-3 with a 3.60 ERA (65.0IP, 26ER) when recording six-plus SO compared to 0-5 with an 8.84 ERA (38.2IP, 38ER) with five SO or fewer...Entered the season ranked as the Rays No. 3 prospect and the No. 44 prospect in the majors by Baseball America…Was ranked as the Rays No. 1 prospect and the No. 16 prospect in the Majors by MLB.com...On April 12 vs. BOS, notched eight SO while allowing three ER over 5.0 IP in his major league debut…It marked only the second time in the modern era (since 1900) a team on a winning streak of 10+ games had a rookie make their first career start, joining ATL Mike McQueen in 1969...The eight SO were the second most in a Rays pitcher’s debut behind Wade Davis on Sept. 6, 2009 vs. DET (9SO)...On June 15 at OAK, recorded each of his first nine outs via the strikeout, becoming the first MLB rookie to accomplish the feat since ATL Spencer Strider on July 7, 2022 vs. STL…His 11 SO on the day were tied with six other pitchers for the second most by a Rays rookie, trailing only Dan Wheeler (12SO) on Sept. 12, 1999 vs. OAK...From his April 12 debut through June 15, his 0.84 HR/9.0 IP was 12th lowest in the AL (min. 40.0IP)…From that point on, his 2.77 HR/9.0 IP was second highest in the Majors (min. 50.0IP) behind MIN Joe Ryan (2.79)...On June 21 vs. BAL, earned his fifth and final win of the season after throwing his first career quality start…Became the second rookie in Rays history to record eight-plus SO and zero walks in a start of 6.0 IP or fewer, joining Jake Odorizzi (two-time, last: 8/9/14 at CHC)...On June 27 at Ariz., surrendered career highs in runs (seven) and homers (four)…Entered that stretch leading MLB rookies (min. 25.0IP) with a 2.13 ERA (25.1IP, 6ER) on the road...On July 29 at HOU, allowed a HR for the seventh straight start in a 17-4 defeat, the longest streak by a Rays pitcher since Jake Odorizzi (15GS) from May 1–July 23, 2017...On Sept. 3 at CLE, held the Guardians to one run despite issuing a career-high five walks…Became the first Rays pitcher to throw 5.0+ IP with five-plus walks and one ER or fewer allowed since Rich Hill on June 23, 2021 vs. Boston (5.0IP, ER, 5BB)...On Sept. 29 at TOR, made his first career appearance out of the bullpen, entering in the seventh inning and surrendering one run after permitting back-to-back two-out doubles to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette...Went winless (0-5) with a 7.11 ERA (55.2IP, 44ER) over his final 13 outings (11GS)...Went 2-5 with a 6.45 ERA (37.2IP, 27ER) over 10 starts for Triple-A Durham…In his final four outings from Aug. 10-27, recorded a 1.37 ERA (19.2IP, 3ER).
2022
Split the season between Double-A Montgomery and Triple-A Durham, earning a July 21 promotion…went 7-4 with a 2.57 ERA (133.1-IP, 38-ER) and 141 SO in 28 starts between the two levels...Led Rays minor leaguers in starts and innings and ranked second in strikeouts...Named Southern League Pitcher of the Month for May, going 0-0 with a 1.06 ERA (17-IP, 2-ER) and 23 SO in four starts…allowed three hits (or fewer) in all four starts and one hit in three of those four starts...Started for the AL Team at the All-Star Futures Game, his first career selection…pitched around a double and walk for a scoreless first inning...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 44 overall prospect in the minors following the season… was the No. 3 prospect in the Rays system… the publication also tabbed him as having the Best Control in the organization and the Best Breaking Pitch and Best Control in the Southern League in its Best Tools survey.
2021
Split the 2021 season between Class-A Charleston and Class-A Bowling Green…went 12-3 with a 1.83 ERA (103.1-IP, 21-ER) in 23 apps (22 starts) between the two levels. Led full-season minor leaguers in ERA, tied for 3rd in wins and ranked 8th in opp avg. (.181) and 9th in WHIP (0.93)...Tied for the High-A East lead with nine wins...Led Rays minor leaguers in wins and ranked 3rd with 123 SO...Named Carolina League Pitcher of the Month for both June and July, going 7-1 with a 0.77 ERA (47-IP, 4-ER) in 10 starts over that stretch...Named to the Rays Organizational All-Star Team by MLB.com and to Baseball America’s Minor League All-Star Team...Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 58 overall prospect in the minors following the season… was the No. 4 prospect in the Rays system…the publication also tabbed him as the Best Pitching Prospect in Low-A East in its Best Tools survey.
2020
In 2020, was not part of the Rays 60-man player pool and did not play following the cancellation of the minor league season...Pitched in the Instructional League in Oct....Ranked by Baseball America as the No. 21 prospect in the Rays system following the season.
