The Tampa Bay Rays started the season off on a sour note but recently have clawed back to .500. They’ve faced plenty of injuries, particularly in the pitching department, where they have almost a full rotation on the shelf. The Rays feature a staff that’s in the bottom third of the league in terms of performance. What was the usual promising season from the Rays quickly derailed. They are getting a piece that they lost recently back in a promising right-hander, Ryan Pepiot. To make room for Pepiot, the Rays have designated veteran right-hander Erasmo Ramirez for assignment.
Ryan Pepiot Returns
Pepiot, 26, proved to be a boost to a Rays rotation that has lost the likes of Drew Rasmussen, Jeffrey Springs, and Shane McLanahan over the past year. He landed on the IL with a leg contusion after taking a comebacker off his leg from Starling Marte back on May 8th. With Zach Eflin hitting the IL recently as well, the Rays will hope to get some semblance of stability from Pepiot’s return.
The right-hander came over from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the trade for Tyler Glasnow and Manuel Margot. He has proven his bit of hype correct so far, ranking as high as No. 70 on MLB’s Top 100 and sixth in the Dodgers organization. He’s pitched to a 3.68 ERA across 36.2 innings, failing to go six innings in two of his seven starts.
Pepiot has found some level of dominance on the mound as well. Of starters that have thrown at least 30 innings this season, he’s 13th in K% at 29.1%. He’s ninth in WHIP at 0.93. He limits the traffic and should see the ERA head in the right direction as he returns against the Red Sox on Wednesday.
Erasmo Ramirez Designated for Assignment
An old friend of the Rays in Erasmo Ramirez has found his way off the roster this season. Ramirez is your typical journeyman pitcher who found a role in the bullpen but has recently had a tough time as he continues through the back end of his career. Ramirez, 34, is in his second stint with the Rays.
He’s covered 15 innings this season and pitched to a 4.20 ERA. What is troubling is he’s given up three homers and has only struck out eight batters. The lack of swing and miss has always been a factor for Ramirez. Unfortunately, it’s given him issues outside of the beginning of his career with the Rays and his time with the Washington Nationals in 2022. Ultimately, it’s the walks that have likely led to this decision. Ramirez has a walk rate of 9.1%, and that just won’t fly in the bullpen.
Time will tell if Ramirez’s career is over, but he may still have a stop or two left after this.
