Tampa Bay Rays Recall Mason Englert, Option Ian Seymour in Bullpen Shakeup

BOSTON — The Tampa Bay Rays have recalled right-handed pitcher Mason Englert from Triple-A Durham, the club announced Tuesday.

Englert is set to provide reinforcements for a bullpen that has hardly had a breather as of late. Since the Rays' last off-day on June 2, their relievers have had to chip in a total of 28.2 innings, never going fewer than 3.0 across their last seven contests.

Despite Shane Baz lasting 5.1 innings against the Boston Red Sox on Monday, Tampa Bay's bullpen still totaled 5.2 innings of work in the 11-inning win. Closer Pete Fairbanks even got a rare chance in the eighth, even if it was in pursuit of a four-out save.

To make room for Englert on the active roster, the Rays optioned left-handed pitcher Ian Seymour to Triple-A in his place. Seymour tossed 2.0 innings in his MLB debut on Monday, so he was likely unavailable for the rest of the Red Sox series regardless.

"This morning when I talked to him, he was probably still – deservedly so – on cloud nine," said manager Kevin Cash. "Just expressed the appreciation and just how impressed we were all with the way that he controlled the environment and controlled his own head space cause that can be pretty daunting."

Englert, 25, has pitched in 11 big league games so far in 2025. He owns a 6.00 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings and a -0.4 WAR on the whole this season.

Those numbers got inflated by Englert's last two appearances, though, when he allowed seven hits, one walk and seven earned runs across 1.0 inning. Before that, Englert had a 2.65 ERA and 1.118 WHIP.

"It's really fun to be part of a team that is expecting the playoffs every year," Englert said. "So being able to contribute in any facet – whether it's high-leverage, low-leverage, whatever it is – it's really enjoyable and it's really fun to be around a group of guys that's focused on winning."

Englert, who joined the Rays via a trade with the Detroit Tigers back in February, boasts a 1.42 ERA and 1.421 WHIP in Triple-A this year.

Tampa Bay will take on Boston again on Tuesday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET. The longer Ryan Pepiot can last, the less of a burden will be placed on Englert and the rest of the Rays' available bullpen arms.

Related Rays stories

• SEYMOUR'S BIG NIGHT: Ian Seymour, who grew up 30 miles from Boston, showed out for his family and friends in the Tampa Bay Rays' extra-inning victory at Fenway Park on Monday. CLICK HERE

• RAYS WIN OPENER: Despite letting the mistake-riddled Boston Red Sox back into the contest a few times down the stretch, the Tampa Bay Rays still held on to win 10-8 on Monday. CLICK HERE

• WILD DOUBLE PLAY: Junior Caminero' routine pop fly to the catcher somehow devolved into a chaotic double play, but it still helped the Tampa Bay Rays take a lead over the Boston Red Sox. CLICK HERE

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