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CINCINNATI — The last time Shane Baz was on the Great American Ball Park mound, it was pretty much the lowest point of his career.
During the July 10, 2022, start, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, leading to eventual Tommy John surgery and a two-year odyssey until he returned to the majors.
“It was a while ago, but it also feels like yesterday,” Baz said Saturday. “ It’s been a lot of tough days in between from that one. It was probably as low as I’ve been as a player, and it’s one of the toughest things I’ve gone through.
“But it’s kind of cool to be able to say that I’ve put that behind me, and now I’m a guy who’s in a big-league rotation for a full year.”
He showed that Sunday, battling through five innings and 100 pitches, without his best stuff, allowing the first two Reds to score and no one else, in a 2-1 loss.
“I was really proud of Shane, I said that to him,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “That was a gutsy outing. He didn’t have his best stuff. He wasn’t executing pitches at the rate that he wants to. But, man, he committed to every pitch, doing everything he could to keep it there at 2-0 with the pitch count getting to an uncomfortable territory. But really impressed with his effort.”
Though frustrated by the outcome, Baz appreciated the situation.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Obviously, a lot better outing. But it means a lot. I think it’s kind of symbolic. Yeah, it’s cool, and I’m really glad that I put in all the work to get back here.
“And I’m just going to keep trying to take the ball here every five days and give us a chance to win.”
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest and going to Mariners games, Drew Rasmussen had some special memories of watching Ichiro Suzuki, who was one of three contemporary era players inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame on Sunday, with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.
“He’s one of the couple guys I can remember from my childhood that I grew up rooting for and cheering on every single day,” Rasmussen said.
The Rays starter is also excited that Suzuki will be honored by the Mariners, including having his number retired, when the Rays visit Aug. 8-10.
“He was one of my childhood heroes, and so to have the opportunity for him to go in the Hall of Fame (Sunday), and then obviously get to see his jersey retirement in Seattle here in a couple weeks, is a really cool experience.”
Rasmussen said he never got the chance as a kid to get Suzuki’s autograph so he is “trying to see if we can fulfill that while we’re in Seattle this year.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash played against all three, and briefly with Sabathia during a May 2009 stint with the Yankees, calling him “a special teammate” and pitcher.
“He was one of the first pitchers that I was around that was so established that on his start day, he didn’t act any different,” Cash said. “He just acted like CC. He was the same guy (days) one through five. Now, when he got on the mound, he turned into just a dominant Hall of Fame pitcher.”
Reliever Bryan Baker, who left Saturday’s game in the seventh inning mid-batter due to right calf discomfort, woke up “feeling pretty good” and then played catch with no issues. He is expected to return to duty when needed. ... Second baseman Brandon Lowe went through a full workout for the second straight day and with a good report. Cash said that bodes well for him to return when eligible Wednesday from the left foot/ankle tendinitis that sidelined him last week. “He seemed pretty optimistic that he’s going to be, as we are right now, available to play (Wednesday),” Cash said.
Rasmussen will pitch Monday at Yankee Stadium for the first time since a May 2023 injury that led to his third major elbow surgery. After being on limited duty the last four starts, he will be back in the five- or six-inning range, as long as the pitch count is reasonable. ... The Rays were swept for the fifth time this season, third on the road. ... Right-hander Connor Seabold left Triple-A Durham’s game Sunday with an apparent arm/hand injury. ... Rasmussen on facing the Yankees without injured Aaron Judge: “No team could possibly replace what Judge brings day in and day out to the lineup and just his production, but it’s still a really talented group. There’s a lot of experience over there, and they know what they’re doing. ... The lineup has plenty of depth to still be incredibly challenging.”
• • •
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During the July 10, 2022, start, he tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow, leading to eventual Tommy John surgery and a two-year odyssey until he returned to the majors.
“It was a while ago, but it also feels like yesterday,” Baz said Saturday. “ It’s been a lot of tough days in between from that one. It was probably as low as I’ve been as a player, and it’s one of the toughest things I’ve gone through.
“But it’s kind of cool to be able to say that I’ve put that behind me, and now I’m a guy who’s in a big-league rotation for a full year.”
He showed that Sunday, battling through five innings and 100 pitches, without his best stuff, allowing the first two Reds to score and no one else, in a 2-1 loss.
“I was really proud of Shane, I said that to him,” Rays manager Kevin Cash said. “That was a gutsy outing. He didn’t have his best stuff. He wasn’t executing pitches at the rate that he wants to. But, man, he committed to every pitch, doing everything he could to keep it there at 2-0 with the pitch count getting to an uncomfortable territory. But really impressed with his effort.”
Though frustrated by the outcome, Baz appreciated the situation.
“It means a lot,” he said. “Obviously, a lot better outing. But it means a lot. I think it’s kind of symbolic. Yeah, it’s cool, and I’m really glad that I put in all the work to get back here.
“And I’m just going to keep trying to take the ball here every five days and give us a chance to win.”
Hall of Fame memories
Growing up in the Pacific Northwest and going to Mariners games, Drew Rasmussen had some special memories of watching Ichiro Suzuki, who was one of three contemporary era players inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame on Sunday, with CC Sabathia and Billy Wagner.
“He’s one of the couple guys I can remember from my childhood that I grew up rooting for and cheering on every single day,” Rasmussen said.
The Rays starter is also excited that Suzuki will be honored by the Mariners, including having his number retired, when the Rays visit Aug. 8-10.
“He was one of my childhood heroes, and so to have the opportunity for him to go in the Hall of Fame (Sunday), and then obviously get to see his jersey retirement in Seattle here in a couple weeks, is a really cool experience.”
Rasmussen said he never got the chance as a kid to get Suzuki’s autograph so he is “trying to see if we can fulfill that while we’re in Seattle this year.”
Rays manager Kevin Cash played against all three, and briefly with Sabathia during a May 2009 stint with the Yankees, calling him “a special teammate” and pitcher.
“He was one of the first pitchers that I was around that was so established that on his start day, he didn’t act any different,” Cash said. “He just acted like CC. He was the same guy (days) one through five. Now, when he got on the mound, he turned into just a dominant Hall of Fame pitcher.”
Medical matters
Reliever Bryan Baker, who left Saturday’s game in the seventh inning mid-batter due to right calf discomfort, woke up “feeling pretty good” and then played catch with no issues. He is expected to return to duty when needed. ... Second baseman Brandon Lowe went through a full workout for the second straight day and with a good report. Cash said that bodes well for him to return when eligible Wednesday from the left foot/ankle tendinitis that sidelined him last week. “He seemed pretty optimistic that he’s going to be, as we are right now, available to play (Wednesday),” Cash said.
Miscellany
Rasmussen will pitch Monday at Yankee Stadium for the first time since a May 2023 injury that led to his third major elbow surgery. After being on limited duty the last four starts, he will be back in the five- or six-inning range, as long as the pitch count is reasonable. ... The Rays were swept for the fifth time this season, third on the road. ... Right-hander Connor Seabold left Triple-A Durham’s game Sunday with an apparent arm/hand injury. ... Rasmussen on facing the Yankees without injured Aaron Judge: “No team could possibly replace what Judge brings day in and day out to the lineup and just his production, but it’s still a really talented group. There’s a lot of experience over there, and they know what they’re doing. ... The lineup has plenty of depth to still be incredibly challenging.”
• • •
Sign up for our Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.
Every weekday, tune into our Sports Day Tampa Bay podcast to hear reporter Rick Stroud break down the biggest stories in Tampa Bay sports.
Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on X and Facebook.
Continue reading...
