Rays select 6-foot-10 right-hander

The Rays have selected right-hander Paul Gervase’s contract from Triple-A, the team announced. In a corresponding move, fellow righty Connor Seabold has been optioned to Triple-A Durham. Gervase will be making his MLB debut if he gets into a game.

Taken by the Mets in the 12th round of the 2022 draft, Gervase joined the Rays ahead of the trade deadline last summer in exchange for Tyler Zuber. Standing 6-foot-10, Gervase had always been an imposing presence on the mound, but he struggled with control throughout his time in the Mets organization, walking 15.5% of the batters he faced. Then, over 15 appearances (17 2/3 innings) at Double-A Montgomery last August and September, he struck out 31 batters while walking only three. His 3.57 ERA wouldn’t have turned any heads, but his 1.95 FIP certainly did, and he earned an invitation to big league spring training with the Rays heading into his age-25 season.

Of course, it was always unlikely that Gervase would jump straight from Double-A to the majors, and a mediocre performance over four spring outings guaranteed that. Yet, he has pitched exceptionally well lately at Triple-A. Since walking seven batters over his first four Triple-A games, he has settled in nicely, striking out 43 and walking just three across his last 27 1/3 innings. He has a 3.29 ERA and a 3.424 FIP in that time.

Gervase will join a Tampa Bay bullpen that leads the AL with a 3.11 ERA, and he will hope to make enough of an impact to stick around long term. Seabold was recalled on June 19 and gave the Rays three scoreless innings that day against the Orioles. Nonetheless, it seems the team views him as more of a bulk-inning depth arm, and he’s already on his way back to Triple-A.