Rays' Shane Baz happily with the first spring start and looks ahead to the opener

Fort Myers – There is almost a month for something to go wrong, which is very aware of Shane Baz.

But until 2024, an uneventful winter and a solid structure in the first weeks of the camp, BAZ took his first spring sunday with a clear view to finally start a season in the majors.

“It is exciting,” said BAZ, 25. “To believe that this will be my first, God wants. So I just try to do my whole work and only great, super detailed about everything and somehow try to do every little thing to ensure that I am ready to go for the first series of the year.”

BAZ made his debut in Major-League in September 2021, and was then out of the way from Elbow problems in spring 2022. He also had to deal with a slope.

He looked in good shape on Sunday, including the hit of 100.6 miles per hour on a ball-four field to the Twins Leadoff Man Matt Wallner.

“I'll take that,” said Baz. “I didn't feel that I used this field, but yes, that's definitely a good sign that I don't have to panic like bike (city). Everyone does that at some point in spring. You like: “Oh no, I was just x (mph).” But yes, I think I crossed this bridge. “

The rays still sort how you will choose a five-man rotation between six starters and who goes beyond Shane McClanahan on the opening day.

But manager Kevin Cash liked what he saw on Sunday of BAZ, who worked three goalless innings. BAZ allowed two goals and a walk and struck two and threw 33 of his 50 pitches for strikes.

“He looked good,” said Cash. “Velo was really in line. Somewhere a fast ball of 100 miles per hour. But he looked very ready to start spring and continue. Mixed a few parking spaces well, fell back in the count, had to come back.

“So, did many things really well how he would do in a regular game of the season.”

BAZ said that he welcomed the chance to perform in a game, not only to see how rackets deal with its specific pitches, but also get used to the lines of vision and the pace.

But as his certain was, he was not totally pleased.

“You definitely don't love the walks,” said BAZ. “I think I could have been much more efficient there, but I work on things and try to throw everything. But yes, satisfied with it. Body feels good. This is all I can really ask for now. “

Gross start

The first spring trip from Reliever Kevin Kelly was not going well.

Kelly took over in the fifth, received two outs and gave Homer to Byron Buxton and Trevor Larnach and a single to Royce Lewis. Then he hit Ryan Jeffers with a field and led money to take him out after 25 parking spaces.

“We are used to seeing KK (Renetzleiter) 1-2-3, (and are) super efficient, but not excessive,” said Cash. “A few balls escaped from him.”

Miscellany

Jonathan Aranda started on Sunday on the second basis, but Cash said that the left swinger would get his time in the “mostly” field on the first basis. How Aranda and right -handed Yandy Diaz still have to be determined between the first and ie. … The first basic prospect Xavier Isaac returned to the game campaign for the first time since February 21st and avoided a walk with a wound left elbow with a walk like the DH. … Zack Littell, another rotary candidate, threw a simulated game in Port Charlotte.

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