Rays’ No. 1 prospect, Taj Bradley, to debut as Eflin (back) heads to IL

The Rays introduced on Tuesday that they’re calling up their prime prospect, right-handed pitcher Taj Bradley. He’s being promoted as a result of right-hander Zach Eflin is headed to the injured checklist — retroactive to April 8 — with decrease again tightness. Bradley will begin Wednesday evening’s recreation towards the Red Sox in what can be his Major League debut.

If the Rays prolong their historic 10-game profitable streak with a victory towards Boston on Tuesday evening, Bradley can be seeking to pitch the Rays to a 12-0 mark in his first huge league begin.

Selected within the fifth spherical of the 2018 Draft, Bradley, 22, has methodically labored his method up the Tampa Bay system. He was 7-4 with a 2.57 ERA in 28 begins for Triple-A Durham final season, and MLB Pipeline ranks him the 18th-best prospect total on its Top 100 checklist.

The 29-year-old Eflin signed a three-year, $35 million pact over the offseason, the largest free-agent deal in Rays historical past. He received his first two begins this season, posting a 3.27 ERA and a 1.182 WHIP whereas hanging out 12 over 11 innings. Eflin sports activities a 38-45 file with a 4.47 ERA over eight seasons within the Majors and has a 1.293 WHIP over 129 video games, together with 117 begins. He’s eligible to return from the IL on April 23.