Shane Baz's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings
Player profile
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HT/WT6' 2'' , 190 lbs
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Birthdate06/17/1999 (25)
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Draft InfoUndrafted
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StatusInactive
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said on Tuesday that starting pitcher Shane Baz (oblique) "felt his oblique again a little bit" at the end of his latest live batting practice session, and he will be re-evaluated on Thursday. The issue isn't expected to be a significant setback, but it marks the second time within the previous month that Baz's buildup for the season following 2022 Tommy John surgery has been affected by an oblique injury. Baz missed the entire 2023 season and will be limited this season, but the 24-year-old former No. 12 overall pick has a promising 4.02 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, and 48:12 K:BB over 40 1/3 career major-league innings. Barring another setback, Baz could be an option for the Rays and fantasy managers around mid-May and is still worth a stash in most mixed leagues.
The Tampa Bay Rays officially placed right-handers Shane Baz (elbow) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, retroactive to March 25. Baz, 24, also dealt with an oblique injury in spring training as he attempts to return from Tommy John surgery in September of 2022. After not pitching at all in 2023, Baz is certainly going to be limited in what he can do for both the Rays and fantasy managers this year, and there's no specific timetable for when he might make his 2024 debut. A return at some point this summer is most likely. Bradley, 23, was diagnosed with a pectoral strain on March 13. He also doesn't have a specific timetable for a return, but he should be back before Baz. There's a lot to like about his strikeout upside, but he gave up too many homers and struggled with his command in his rookie season in 2023.
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane Baz (elbow), who has been working his way back from Tommy John surgery, was close to throwing his first live batting practice session but "tweaked an oblique picking up a weight." It's estimated that the 24-year-old will be delayed in his throwing progression by about a week now. Baz wasn't going to be ready by Opening Day anyway, but this would seemingly push back the start of his regular season debut as well, whenever that might be. As of now, the former first-round draft pick is projected to make 16 starts, but his NFBC ADP of 211 is looking very pricey.
Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Shane Baz (elbow) threw his first bullpen session of spring training on Friday and said it went "great." Baz is being brought along slowly in camp after having Tommy John surgery in September of 2022, and he's targeting a late-summer return to the Rays pitching staff after not pitching at all in 2023. The 24-year-old has only made nine big-league starts (40 1/3 innings) in 2021 and 2022, which is the primary reason the Rays aren't in a rush to bring him back this year. In those nine starts, he's gone 3-2 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.12 WHIP with 12 walks and 48 strikeouts. Baz has never thrown more than 82 innings in the minors. either, and with durability concerns, he's really not worth the risk in most fantasy leagues with an innings limit to boot in 2024.
Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander said that right-hander Shane Baz (elbow) has completed his rehab. However, his issue is a lack of past workload, so he will be on a slow buildup coming out of spring training. The 24-year-old underwent Tommy John surgery almost 17 months ago and didn't pitch at all in 2023. In two big-league seasons prior to that, he only made nine starts covering 40 1/3 innings pitched, so he will surely be on a strict innings limit this season. Baz has a 4.02 ERA (4.30 FIP) and 1.12 WHIP with 12 walks and 48 strikeouts in his 40 1/3 major-league innings. Dating back to his time in the minors, Baz hasn't thrown more than 82 innings in any season, so fantasy managers need to temper their expectations in deeper leagues in 2024.