Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Shane Baz (11) looks on against the Toronto Blue Jays after the fourth inning at Rogers Centre in 2022. Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

Former Top Prospect Set to Make Long-Awaited Return For Tampa Bay Rays

Originally posted on Fastball on SI | By Brady Farkas | Last updated Jul 5, 2024 6:36 PM ET

Former top prospect Shane Baz is set to make his long-awaited return to a big-league mound on Friday night when the Tampa Bay Rays visit the defending World Champion Texas Rangers.

It's been 727 days days since Baz last appeared on a big league mound. He's been recovering from Tommy John surgery that he underwent in 2022.

Per the Durham Bulls on social media:

Right-hander Shane Baz has been recalled to Tampa Bay, returning to pitch for the Rays for the 1st time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2022.

Welcome back to The Show, Shane!

Right-hander Shane Baz has been recalled to Tampa Bay, returning to pitch for the Rays for the 1st time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in September 2022.

Welcome back to The Show, Shane! pic.twitter.com/YAmAx46l1t
— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) July 5, 2024

Baz was ranked as the Rays' No. 1 prospect in the 2022 season and was No. 12 overall in baseball that same year. The 25-year-old debuted in 2021, making three starts. He made six more in 2022. Lifetime, he's 3-2 at the big league level with a 4.02 ERA. Armed with massive weapons, he's struck out 48 batters in 40.1 big league innings.

On his rehab assignment this year with Durham, he went 3-3 with a 4.12 ERA in 10 starts. However, he was much better recently, as noted by fantasy baseball expert Eric Cross:

Shane Baz is taking over the vacant spot in Tampa Bay's rotation and will start Friday.

Last 5 GS in AAA: 23 IP, 1.57 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 10.4% BB, 36.5% K

The Rays are going to be careful with him, but the upside is massive.

Shane Baz is taking over the vacant spot in Tampa Bay's rotation and will start Friday.

Last 5 GS in AAA: 23 IP, 1.57 ERA, 1.30 WHIP, 10.4% BB, 36.5% K

The Rays are going to be careful with him, but the upside is massive.#RaysUp pic.twitter.com/yNw0AdXMjv
— Eric Cross (@EricCross04) July 3, 2024

The Rays will be looking for revenge on the Rangers this weekend as Texas eliminated them from the American League playoffs last season. Tampa Bay enters this matchup at 44-43 overall. They are 3.5 games back in the AL wild card chase.

Texas is 39-48 and has lost eight of its last 10.

First pitch is set for 8:05 p.m. ET.

This article first appeared on Fastball on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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