Rasmussen ramps up to highest pitch count since '23

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- About 90 minutes before Taj Bradley's first pitch against the Blue Jays inside the stadium at Charlotte Sports Park on Sunday afternoon, Drew Rasmussen scaled the mound on a back field to take a big step in his return to the Rays¡¯ rotation.

Rasmussen threw three innings of live batting practice against his teammates and got his pitch count into the 40s, the first time he¡¯s worked more than two innings in nearly two years. The right-hander said he felt good, and he looked strong, with his fastball still touching 96 mph during his third trip to the mound.

Rasmussen hadn¡¯t experienced that kind of workload since May 11, 2023, when he threw seven dominant innings at Yankee Stadium. He underwent an internal brace procedure that July, his third major surgery on his right elbow. He returned last season as a reliever and never threw more than two innings or 38 pitches.

That¡¯s why it felt like Rasmussen had checked another notable box on Sunday morning, even if the outing took place on Field 5 with only a handful of teammates and staff watching.

¡°It was kind of the purpose of doing it back here instead of in there, just because it's been so long and it's a little bit more controlled environment. But it felt really good,¡± Rasmussen said. ¡°It felt good to get in there, compete in the strike zone for a third inning and the stuff was still good.¡±

When he signed a two-year extension with Tampa Bay in January, Rasmussen expressed his preference to return as a starting pitcher. The Rays are sorting through five options for four remaining spots behind Opening Day starter Shane McClanahan, but he is being built up to handle at least five innings by the end of Spring Training.

¡°We¡¯re counting on him in a big way, and today his stuff was as sharp as [pitching coach] Kyle [Snyder] said he¡¯d ever seen,¡± manager Kevin Cash said.

Rasmussen threw five pitches as a starter. He shelved his curveball as a reliever last season -- ¡°I wasn¡¯t going to get beat with option five,¡± he said -- but plans to reincorporate it this year alongside his four-seam fastball, two-seamer, cutter and sweeper.

When asked what¡¯s next on his spring checklist, Rasmussen said, ¡°I think every time, we add an inning. ¡­ I think that puts us in a pretty good place. And then just continuing to get more outs as outings come, that would kind of be the big hurdle.¡±

Isaac among latest cuts
The Rays reassigned three players to Minor League camp after Sunday¡¯s 13-9 loss to the Blue Jays: right-handers Michael Flynn and Joey Gerber and first baseman/outfielder Xavier Isaac, their No. 2 prospect according to MLB Pipeline.

Isaac had a tough spring, going 0-for-9 with eight strikeouts and two walks. He was set back from the beginning by a sore throwing elbow, which limited the first baseman/corner outfielder to DH duty.

¡°Probably a pretty trying spring for him, mentally, just because of being hurt and being limited,¡± Cash said. ¡°We'll try to make sure we do everything we can to get his arm in the right spot and he can go get off to a good start. I mean, it's some kind of talent.¡±

Junior returns
After exiting Thursday¡¯s game against the Phillies early due to low back tightness, third baseman Junior Caminero returned to the lineup on Sunday and went 1-for-3 with a strikeout. Caminero said he¡¯d never dealt with a similar issue and noted he feels ¡°better than ever¡± now.

¡°I spoke to Cashy. He said just take a couple days, and I¡¯m feeling good,¡± Caminero said through interpreter Eddie Rodriguez.

Taj sharpens up
Bradley endured a long second inning Sunday that forced him to exit and reenter the game, but he finished strong, working into the fourth inning and striking out three of the final four batters he faced. Bradley said he identified a mechanical hitch and was pleased to make the necessary adjustment before the end of his outing.

¡°That¡¯s the whole point of a long season,¡± he said. ¡°You¡¯re going to have to do that within that 162[-game] span, so I'm happy I was able to do it within four innings.¡±

Walls OK after early exit
Shortstop Taylor Walls exited Saturday¡¯s game against the Orioles in the middle of the fourth inning due to tightness in his right quad, but he said Sunday morning that he felt ¡°perfectly fine.¡± Walls was not in the lineup Sunday, as expected, and Cash said he will also sit out Monday¡¯s game against the Braves. He should return Wednesday, after the club¡¯s off-day on Tuesday.

¡°Definitely could have stayed in. Just one of those things where, gradually, as ground balls went on, it started to tighten up a little bit more than it should have,¡± Walls said. ¡°With a few weeks ahead of us, there was no point in pushing it. It¡¯s all good.¡±