The Rays introduced the signing of right-hander Jacob Waguespack to a minor league deal. He’ll get a glance in huge league camp as a non-roster invitee.
Waguespack, an Ole Miss product, is conversant in the AL East. His MLB expertise got here with the Blue Jays between 2019-20. He began 13 of 18 appearances as a rookie, working to a 4.38 ERA over 78 innings. His follow-up season didn’t go as deliberate, as he surrendered 20 runs in 17 2/3 frames of aid. Toronto outrighted him from the roster throughout Spring Coaching in 2021.
After spending the ’21 season in Triple-A, Waguespack headed abroad. He signed with the Orix Buffaloes of Japan’s Nippon Skilled Baseball. He discovered success in his first NPB marketing campaign. In 72 2/3 innings spanning 32 video games, he posted a 2.97 ERA with a powerful 26.2% strikeout charge. That led the Buffaloes to maintain him round final 12 months, however he struggled in his second season.
Waguespack allowed 5.77 earned runs per 9 in 43 2/3 frames. Management was the principle concern, as he walked nearly 13% of opposing hitters. On the plus aspect, Waguespack continued to overlook loads of bats. He punched out a 3rd of batters confronted final season. Over his two-year tenure, he ran a strikeout charge above 29%.
The Rays will see if the 30-year-old can carry a few of that swing-and-miss stuff in opposition to MLB hitters in Spring Coaching. He’ll seemingly open the season with Triple-A Durham as a protracted aid depth hurler. The Rays regularly shuttle multi-inning bullpen arms between Durham and Tampa Bay. Waguespack nonetheless has a pair of choices, so the Rays might transfer him freely to the minors if he earns a spot on the 40-man roster at any level.
