Stanek Blazing His Way To The Show

The Tampa Bay Rays are searching for relief. Their disabled list provides plenty of known names ( Brad Boxberger, Xavier Cedeno, Shawn Tolleson, Tommy Hunter, and Jaime Schultz) but none are close to returning.

The ability to hold leads late in games has been one of the Rays most glaring weaknesses early in the 2017 season. Their bullpen has the sixth highest ERA 4.44 (59-ER/119.2-IP) and during the recently completed seven game homestand they pitched to a 7.76 ERA (23-ER/26.2-IP).

Since opening day they’ve called up Ryan Garton, Justin Marks, Chih-Wei Hu, Diego Moreno, Jose Alvarado, and Chase Whitley. While Alvarado and Whitley have had various degrees of success the others have struggled. It should be noted that Hu did not struggle, rather only appeared in two games.

While the likes of Justin Marks and Diego Moreno are added to the 40-man roster and brought up to the big leagues, Ryne Stanek remains with the Rays Triple-A affiliate Durham Bulls.

Keep in mind, Stanek is on the 40-man roster! He also converted from starting to relieving during the 2015 season because it would be his fastest path to the big leagues. He has to scratch his head wondering what he has to do? Their is an obvious need, yet his phone doesn’t ring.

Stanek, who hit triple digits with his fastball, has appeared in 14 games with the Bulls posting a 1-0 mark with a 2.00 ERA (4-ER/18-IP). He has struck out 25 batters while walking just six.

He has not allowed a run over his last 11 appearances (13.2-IP) while striking out 22 and walking just 2. In that span he has allowed just 10 hits, all singles.

About Stanek:

Now 26 years old, he was drafted by the Rays in the first round (#29 overall) of the 2013 draft. He did not pitch after being drafted electing instead to undergo hip surgery to alleviate discomfort.

In 2014 he made 13 starts spanning between three teams. He made a start for the Rays Rookie League Team (1 start). Nine with their Class A affiliate Bowling Green Hot Rods. Three came with the High-A Charlotte Stone Crabs.

In 2015 he made 25 appearances (17 starts) between the Stone Crabs and the Rays’ Double A affiliate Montgomery Biscuits. He finished the season 8-5 with a 3.04 ERA.

He opened the 2016 season in the Biscuits rotation but was converted to a full time reliever after 11 starts in which he went 1-6 with a 4.62 ERA. In transitioning to a reliever, he picked up a few miles per hour on his fastball which at times hits triple digits on the radar gun. He finished the season with the Rays’ Triple-A affiliate Durham Bulls appearing in 16 games pitching to a 5.92 ERA (16-ER/24.1-IP) while striking out 22 batters.