The Tampa Bay Rays have called up their No. 9 ranked prospect.
Before Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago White Sox, the Rays called up right-hander Jacob Faria from Triple-A Durham. Our buddy Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times confirmed earlier today that the 23-year-old California native will make his major league debut on Wednesday night.
#rays make it official. Faria to start Wednesday https://t.co/c7Gn1ZOLY8
— Roger Mooney (@RogerMooney50) June 6, 2017
Drafted by the Rays in the 10th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Faria (6-1; 3.07) has spent the entire 2017 season in Durham. Listed as the Rays’ No. 9 prospect according to MLB.com, his performance in Triple-A this season has been spectacular.
In 58.2 innings the righty has 84 strikeouts and is holding batters to a .204 batting average against. He’s the league-leader in strikeouts while his six wins are tied (PHI Ben Lively) for the top spot in the International League.
“I think it’s cool being in that category. It’s obviously fun striking out guys, and it’s a big thing people like,” Faria said after his June 1 outing. “I really don’t even think about it too much. The only time I ever think about it is if somebody else brings it up. It doesn’t really cross my mind all too often.”
With Matt Andriese on the DL with a groin injury, the Rays are in need of starting pitching depth. Faria provides that. In his most recent outing Faria went a career-high seven innings earning the victory over the Rochester Red Wings (MIN).
Faria joins Austin Pruitt, Jose Alvarado, Ryne Stanek, Chih-Wei Hu, Hunter Wood, and Daniel Robertson on the list of players to make their big-league debut for the Rays this season.
