The top pitching prospect for the Tampa Bay Rays will get to make his debut a lot earlier than he likely expected.
Taj Bradley will make his MLB debut Tuesday after the Rays announced they were placing pitcher Zach Eflin on the 15-day injured list with lower back tightness.
The 29-year-old said the issue occurred following his last start April 7 against Oakland.
”I pushed the bullpen back out a day, went out yesterday and kind of reaggravated a little bit,” Eflin said. “So it doesn’t necessarily make sense this early in the year to go out tomorrow and potentially make it a worse situation than it is.”
Bradley has made two starts for Triple-A Durham so far in 2023, and Rays manager Kevin Cash knows the right-handler will be excited to be on the mound facing big league hitters in the Red Sox.
”It’s a rush for any young player that first time you get called up,” Cash said. “But I know he’s got a bunch of guys that will be excited for him here. He’s got a bunch of guys excited for him in Durham. And I hope we can just continue with the hitting that we’ve done and give him a little bit of support.”