Baz (elbow) is on track to begin a throwing program in 3-4 weeks, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Baz reported to Rays camp this week as he continues the long road back from last September's Tommy John surgery. Obviously, he's not going to be an option for Tampa Bay this season, but the hope will be for him to be ready to roll by 2024.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Tommy John surgery completed
Rotowire
Baz (elbow) underwent successful Tommy John surgery in Dallas on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
As anticipated, Baz's surgery involved nothing more complex than the traditional UCL repair, but the timeline associated with the procedure means that Baz will be sidelined through the 2023 season. He could be ready to resume facing hitters by the second half of next season, which should put him on track to enter 2024 spring training at full health and ready to reclaim a spot in the Tampa Bay rotation. Baz made just six starts this season due to right elbow issues that weren't permanently resolved by the arthroscopic procedure he underwent in late March.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Requires Tommy John surgery
Rotowire
Baz will undergo Tommy John surgery and won't play during the 2023 season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Baz underwent an arthroscopic procedure on his elbow in late March and returned to action for a month just before the All-Star break, but he was shut down in mid-July with a right elbow sprain and had already been ruled out for the season. The Rays seemed optimistic about his recovery process, but the right-hander will be forced to miss the 2023 season since doctors have recommended Tommy John surgery.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Done for season
Rotowire
Baz (elbow) will not return this season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Baz resumed throwing in late August and, according to the report, "seems to be doing okay in recovery," but the Rays will take the cautious route and shut him down for the rest of the campaign. Barring a setback, expect Baz to be back at 100 percent well in advance of spring training in 2023.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Will begin throwing program Monday
Rotowire
Baz (elbow) said that he's been cleared to resume a throwing program Monday and remains hopeful he'll return from the 60-day injured list before the end of the season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Baz is ready to begin the ramp-up process following a four-week shutdown due to a right elbow sprain. Given that Baz missed the first two months of the season after requiring an arthroscopic procedure on his elbow in late March, the Rays are likely to proceed cautiously with him during his throwing program. At this stage of the season, Baz may not have enough time to build up for a starting role, but if he avoids any setbacks during the rehab process, he could have some value to the Rays as a multi-inning arm out of the bullpen down the stretch.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Shifts to 60-day injured list
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Baz (elbow) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Baz hit the injured list Thursday with a right elbow sprain. He'll be shut down for a month after receiving a platelet-rich plasma injection, so he likely wouldn't have had a chance to return within 60 days even without this transaction. He'll now be officially unable to make it back before September 9, and it's not yet clear if he'll be ready to return on that date or at any point over the last month of the regular season.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Goes on IL with elbow sprain
Rotowire
The Rays placed Baz on the 15-day injured list Thursday with a right elbow sprain after he experienced discomfort while playing catch Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He'll receive a platelet-rich plasma injection for the elbow and will rest and rehab for a month before being re-evaluated, according to Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network.
Even if he's cleared to resume throwing following the four-week shutdown, Baz will likely need at least a couple weeks to get ramped back up for game action, so fantasy managers shouldn't count on the right-hander making his way back from the IL until at least early September. That reality likely makes Baz a comfortable drop in most redraft leagues, and his injury could prompt the Rays to explore acquiring another starting pitcher prior to the Aug. 2 trade deadline. After opening the season on the IL while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on the same elbow, Baz debuted June 11 and produced a 5.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 30:9 K:BB in 27 innings before succumbing to another elbow-related setback.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Pummeled in loss
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Baz (1-2) allowed seven runs on eight hits over 2.1 innings Sunday, striking out two and taking a loss against the Reds.
Baz turned in a pair of scoreless frames before the Reds tagged him for seven runs in the third. He gave up three two-run homers in the inning to Jonathan India, Tyler Stephenson and Mike Moustakas. The 23-year-old righty had allowed just two home runs through 24.2 frames entering Sunday's start. Baz now owns an unsightly 5.00 ERA with a 30:9 K:BB over six starts. He's lined up to face Baltimore at home next week.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Fans seven in victory
Rotowire
Baz (1-1) allowed one run on seven hits and two walks over six innings Sunday, striking out seven and earning a win over Toronto.
The lone run given up by Baz came during the third inning on Vladimir Guerrero's RBI single. After coughing up five runs in his season debut, the 23-year-old righty has allowed three runs with a 26:6 K:BB over his last 22.1 frames. He lowered his season ERA to 2.92 with 28 punchouts through five outings. Baz is lined up to start in Cincinnati next weekend.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Looks good against Yankees
Rotowire
Baz did not factor in the decision against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six over 4.2 innings.
Baz held New York scoreless through three innings before serving up a solo homer to Aaron Judge in the fourth. The right-handed hurler began to falter in the fifth, allowing three straight hitters to reach base on a single and two walks with one out, but he struck out Judge with the bases loaded before giving way to a reliever. Baz was one out away from qualifying for the win when he was pulled, though that detail was made moot when the Yankees came back to win. After allowing five runs over 2.1 innings in his first start of the season June 11, Baz has bounced back to allow only one run across 10.2 frames while racking up 13 strikeouts in his subsequent pair of outings.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Fires six shutout innings
Rotowire
Baz yielded two hits over six scoreless frames in Friday's loss to Baltimore. He struck out seven without walking a batter and did not factor in the decision.
Baz looked much better in his second start of the season after getting stung for five runs in 2.2 innings in his 2022 debut. He threw 48 of 76 pitches for strikes, including 14 swinging strikes, and he struck out the side in his final frame. He's sporting a 5.40 ERA through 8.1 frames after missing the start of the season due to an elbow injury. Baz is projected to face the Yankees at home next week.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Poor showing in season debut
Rotowire
Baz (0-1) gave up five runs on three hits and three walks in 2.1 innings while striking out just two batters Saturday against the Twins, picking up the loss in his season debut.
Baz entered the season with plenty of hype, but arthroscopic elbow surgery in late March kept him on the shelf for the first two months of the campaign. His season debut certainly didn't go as he would have liked, as the Twins scored five runs in the third inning on a Luis Arraez grand slam and a Jose Miranda double. One bad outing shouldn't dent Baz's significant pedigree, though it does serve as a reminder that expecting dominance immediately after a return from elbow surgery may have been unwise. He'll look to get back on track next week, when he lines up to face the Orioles on Friday.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
Baz (elbow) was activated from the 60-day injured list Saturday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Baz was expected to make his season debut Saturday, and with the Rays adding him to the active roster, he will do just that. Baz threw 79 pitches in his final rehab outing, so he should not be particularly limited in his first big-league outing of the season. Baz can be considered the top pitching prospect in the league, and he will look to pick up where he left off after posting a 2.03 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB across the 13.1 innings he tossed for the Rays late last season.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Season debut coming Saturday
Rotowire
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Baz (elbow) is on track to come off the 60-day injured list to start Saturday's game in Minnesota, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
As anticipated, Baz will be ready to make his season debut this weekend after he recently wrapped up a four-start rehab assignment at Triple-A Durham. In his most recent outing Sunday, Baz struck out 10 over 4.1 innings while building up to 79 pitches, so he shouldn't face any significant restrictions with his workload in his first start with the Rays. In his first taste of the big leagues late last season, Baz produced a 2.03 ERA, 0.68 WHIP and 18:3 K:BB across 13.1 innings over his three starts.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Returning during upcoming road trip
Rotowire
Baz (elbow) will rejoin the Rays' rotation during their upcoming series in Minnesota, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Baz made his fourth rehab start at Triple-A Durham on Sunday and allowed a run on four hits and a walk while striking out 10 in 4.1 innings. He built up to 79 pitches in the start and will rejoin the Rays' rotation after Ryan Yarbrough was sent down Tuesday. The team hasn't yet revealed which game Baz will start during the three-game series against the Twins, but it seems likely that he'll take the mound Saturday or Sunday.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Whiffs 10 in fourth rehab start
Rotowire
Baz (elbow) struck out 10 over 4.1 innings Sunday in his fourth rehab start with Triple-A Durham. He was charged with one earned run on four hits and a walk.
The 10 strikeouts equaled a career-high for Baz, who built up to 79 pitches in the outing and looks ready to return from the 60-day injured list to make his next start in the big leagues. In order to make room for Baz in the rotation, the Rays could either choose to expand from a five-man to a six-man setup or demote Ryan Yarbrough to the bullpen, after the lefty was lit up for six runs in 1.2 innings Sunday in Tampa Bay's loss to the White Sox. Either way, fantasy managers who have stashing Baz on the IL should be prepared to activate him ahead of his 2022 Rays debut, which will likely come Saturday or Sunday in Minnesota.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Throws 24 pitches
Rotowire
Baz (elbow) allowed one hit and one run while striking out five and walking none across 2.1 innings Thursday during a rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham.
Baz made his first rehab appearance since undergoing elbow surgery March 21. He allowed a leadoff home run to Lewin Diaz in the second inning but racked up plenty of swings and misses otherwise. Baz threw only 24 pitches and is not eligible to return from the injured list until early June, so he will likely make a few more rehab outings with Durham.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Set to start rehab assignment
Rotowire
Baz (elbow) will start his rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After undergoing elbow surgery in March, Baz has slowly been working his way back and will now take another step forward Thursday. The 22-year-old is expected to pitch two innings and will look to build off that moving forward, as he will need multiple rehab outings before rejoining the Rays. The former first-round pick started three games for Tampa Bay in 2021, producing an impressive 2.03 ERA and 0.68 WHIP with 18 punchouts over 13.1 frames. Baz is eligible to be reinstated from the injured list June 6.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Live BP on tap
Rotowire
Baz (elbow) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Monday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Facing live hitters marks the next step forward in the rehab process for Baz, who has been sidelined since undergoing arthroscopic surgery in late March to remove loose bodies from his right elbow. He initiated a throwing program just over two weeks ago and has thus far checked out fine while advancing from long tossing to pitching bullpen sessions, which seemingly keeps him on pace to return from the 60-day injured list when first eligible June 6. For that to become a reality, however, Baz will need to avoid any setbacks upon facing hitters and eventually, making multiple minor-league starts as part of a rehab assignment.
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Rays' Shane Baz: Resumes throwing
Rotowire
Baz (elbow) has resumed throwing and completed a session on flat ground from 75 feet April 16, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Baz underwent arthroscopic elbow surgery in late March and was ultimately shifted to the 60-day injured list April 16. He'll be eligible to be activated June 6, though it remains unclear whether he will be ready to retake the mound at that point.
