Rays' Shane Baz expected to miss at least eight weeks

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane Baz won't pitch for quite some time. Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Rays SP Shane Baz expected to miss at least eight weeks, possibly 'much longer'

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 7/15/22

The Tampa Bay Rays placed starting pitcher Shane Baz on the 15-day injured list with a right elbow sprain on Thursday. According to a report from Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times on Friday morning, the righty is facing an extended absence.

#Rays Baz is expected to miss roughly 8 weeks in a best case scenario, and given that a “sprain” usually means there is a tear in a ligament it could be much longer. Luis Patino will fill in tonight vs. #Orioles https://t.co/voi9qjqM6M
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 15, 2022

Baz missed the first two months of the 2022 season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery in March to remove a bone chip from his elbow, though Rays manager Kevin Cash said the new injury is not related to the procedure. In six starts this year, he's gone 1-2 with a 5.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP and 30 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched.

The 12th overall pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates during the 2017 MLB June Amateur Draft, Baz was traded to Tampa Bay during the summer of 2018. The 23-year-old made his major league debut in September 2021 and went 2-0 with a 2.03 ERA, 0.67 WHIP and 18 strikeouts across 13 1/3 innings covering three starts last season.

The Baz situation adds to an already lengthy list of Rays players who have gone on the IL this season. According to Topkin's report, Baz is the 12th pitcher and 17th player overall on IL, matching the most in the league as well as the high for any time in franchise history.

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