Rays trim their roster as we inch closer to Opening Day.
Over the weekend, the Tampa Bay Rays optioned a few players to Durham with the roster cut deadline looming. The Rays optioned RHP Jacob Faria and RHP Brent Honeywell among others to Durham.
Sending Honeywell to Durham comes as no surprise as the youngster is still recovering from Tommy John surgery. Honeywell is two years removed from going 13-9 in 26 starts between AA and AAA where he posted a 3.49 ERA in 136.2 combined innings of work amassing 172 total strikeouts. Still a consensus top 30 prospect in baseball, the long awaited arrival of Honeywell is imminent.
The demotion of Faria, however, came as a bit of a shock as there was some thought that he might be fighting for a rotation spot, or at least one of the guys to get the bulk of the innings, right out of spring. Faria, who is coming off of an injury plagued season, posted a 5.40 ERA in 65 innings with the Rays in 2018. He was a prime candidate to bounce back to his 2017 form where he posted a 3.43 ERA in 86.2 innings. He looked to be on his way to doing that with his good start to the spring.
Sometimes good isn’t good enough but looking forward to working hard and proving myself right and being the big leaguer I know I am. #GodsPlan https://t.co/z6dNV07o0q
— Jacob Faria (@JDFaria34) March 11, 2019
Other players getting optioned to Durham include 3B Christian Arroyo, RF Jesus Sanchez, LF Joe McCarthy, SS Andrew Velazquez, C Nick Ciuffo, RHP Ian Gibaut and RHP Andrew Moore.
Injury Update
Kevin Cash said that Honeywell and Jose De Leon faced live batters for the first time in their recovery from Tommy John. They both threw 15 pitches each.
Up Next
The Rays have an off day tomorrow followed by a game in Port Charlotte against a split squad Philles team. First pitch scheduled for 1:05 EST with Emilo Pagan set to take the mound for the Rays.
