The Rays reinstated Baz (elbow) from the injured list Thursday and optioned him to Triple-A Durham.

EDGE Analysis

Baz has been on the injured list all season while completing the final stages of recovery from his July 2022 Tommy John surgery. The 24-year-old righty started four games at Triple-A during his rehab assignment, posting a 6.00 ERA and 1.92 WHIP while striking out eight batters and walking 11 through 12 innings. He'll remain with Durham despite being fully recovered, though there is still a possibility he contributes to the Rays' pitching staff later this season.

Baz (elbow) allowed one earned run on three hits and three walks while striking out four across four innings during a rehab start with Triple-A Durham on Wednesday.

EDGE Analysis

This was Baz's best rehab appearance since starting the assignment May 4. He's still fighting his control, as he has walked 11 batters across 12 innings, though that shouldn't come as a significant surprise given his lengthy layoff since last pitching in a meaningful game. The Rays will likely want him to make at least one more start in the minors, but he could rejoin the big-league rotation in early June.

Baz (elbow) struck out three and allowed one earned run on five hits and two walks over 3.1 innings Thursday in the third start of his minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham.

EDGE Analysis

After issuing five walks in just 1.2 innings in his second rehab start, Baz demonstrated improved control. Though he still walked two of the 17 batters (11.8 percent) he faced, the right-hander spotted 49 of his 69 pitches for strikes. Baz will likely make at least one more rehab start for Durham before the Rays bring him back from the 15-day injured list.

Baz (elbow/oblique) worked 1.2 innings and struck out one while allowing three earned runs on one hit and five walks Friday in his second rehab start with Triple-A Durham.

EDGE Analysis

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Baz's control has been spotty in his first two rehab starts in his first game action since July 2022 following a prolonged recovery from Tommy John surgery and two minor setbacks with his oblique. After working three innings and spotting 22 of his 39 pitches for strikes in his start with Durham on May 4, Baz found the strike zone on just 29 of his 59 pitches Friday and also hit a batter in addition to issuing five free passes. The fact that Baz was able to increase his pitch count was a positive takeaway, but he'll still need to improve his efficiency as he continues his buildup process in the minors. Baz will presumably need at least two more rehab starts before he returns from the 15-day injured list and makes his 2024 debut with the Rays.

Baz (elbow/oblique) will start his second rehab outing with Triple-A Durham on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Baz made his first rehab appearance Saturday and threw 39 pitches. He hasn't started in a big-league game since July 10, 2022, so the Rays will likely be cautious regarding the pace of his buildup. That makes a return in late May realistic.

Baz (elbow/oblique) gave up three earned runs on three hits and one walk in three innings Saturday during his first rehab start for Triple-A Durham. He failed to record a strikeout and built up to 39 pitches.

EDGE Analysis

He gave up a two-run home run on a changeup to Forrest Wall, which accounted for the brunt of the damage. Baz averaged 95 mph on his fastball, per Thomas Nestco of TJ Stats, and he will probably need to make several more rehab starts before rejoining the big-league rotation.

Baz (elbow/oblique) will soon throw two innings in an extended spring training game, Evan Closky of WTSP in Tampa reports.

EDGE Analysis

Baz's recovery from Tommy John surgery had to be slowed during spring training because of a pair of oblique injuries. The Rays have not shifted Baz to the 60-day injured list to this point, but it would still be a surprise if he's ready to pitch for them before late May. A timetable for his return remains up in the air.

Baz (oblique/elbow) is throwing two-inning live batting practice sessions and "feels good," according to manager Kevin Cash, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Baz has dealt with two minor oblique setbacks during his comeback from Tommy John surgery, with the first coming when he picked up a weight in the weight room in early March. Baz is throwing and continuing to check boxes in his return, but he has never thrown 100 innings in a season and still hasn't begun a rehab assignment, so fantasy managers should be cautious in their optimism.

The Rays placed Baz on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to March 25, with a right elbow injury, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

EDGE Analysis

Baz also dealt with an oblique injury this spring, but the plan was always to delay his season debut as he comes back from September 2022 Tommy John surgery. It remains something of a mystery as to when he will rejoin the Rays' rotation, but fantasy managers shouldn't be expecting him for at least the first month or two.

Baz (elbow/oblique) threw 25 pitches off a mound Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Baz is closing in on a return from Tommy John surgery, but an oblique injury more recently slowed him. It appears that he's nearing full strength regarding the latter issue, which should allow him to attack the final stage of rehabbing his elbow injury. The Rays are expected to be cautious with Baz, and he's projected to return in late spring or early summer.