The Rays have had a relatively uneventful camp thus far. They have never lost anyone to what appears to be a serious injury. Their expected rotation is on schedule, with most of the starters locked in since the start of camp.
The bullpen is one area of the roster that is highly variable. They announced a few weeks ago that they are freeing up Steven Wilson will start the season on the injured list with a back issue. For now, it’s fine Edwin Uceta has yet to pitch this spring after being sidelined with shoulder inflammation.
Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times writes unsurprisingly that Uceta is not expected to be ready on Opening Day. The 28-year-old does not appear to be facing a long-term absence. Uceta was playing catch without a problem. It is unclear if he will play in the exhibition game before camp closes. He shouldn’t need a ton of time to build up to being ready for a regular season game after that.
Uceta’s season-opening injured list will open up another middle relief spot. Tampa Bay has three key senior relief roles: Garrett Cleavinger, Griffin Jax again Bryan Baker. No one else is firmly locked into the Opening Day mix. Rights Cole Sulser again Yoendrys Gómez they are out of the minor league options. They need to break camp or face termination.
Gómez was an offseason trade alongside Wilson in a deal that sent an outfielder Everson Pereira to the White Sox. The Rays wouldn’t have made that trade if they didn’t expect Gómez to have a strong chance to break camp. His case for a roster spot is bolstered by his ability to work multiple innings.
Topkin writes that the Rays plan to carry a lot of shortstops to start the season. That will give them first cover Shane McClanahan again Steven Matz. McClanahan has not thrown an MLB pitch since 2023 due to various injuries. Matz returns to rotation duty after stints in the bullpen with the Cardinals and Red Sox last year. He threw just 76 2/3 innings. They will be rotating, but the Rays will be careful with their work early.
Gómez made nine starts in 21 games last season, throwing a total of 62 2/3 innings. He threw five innings of two-run ball in his first four games this spring. Gómez left the team to play for Venezuela during pool play for the World Baseball Classic. He threw two scoreless innings with three strikeouts against Nicaragua on Monday.
Despite Venezuela advancing to the quarterfinals, Gómez returned to Rays camp this week as he tries to nail down a roster spot. Ian Seymour again Joe Boyle and are capable of carrying multiple innings out of the bullpen or serving as rotation depth at Triple-A Durham.
Left hand Joe Rock served as a multi-inning deep arm last season. The 25-year-old pitched 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball in his first three major league appearances. He had shakier numbers in Triple-A, where he allowed a 5.21 earned run average in 96 2/3 innings.
The Rock will begin this season back in Durham after being selected to MLB camp this afternoon. He’ll do so in a different role, as MLB.com’s Adam Berry writes that the Rays are turning a second-round pick into short relief. Rock worked exactly one frame in his fifth spring training appearance. He struck out nine and allowed just three hits and one run, though he walked six of the 23 batters he faced.
