RADIO
Shane Baz 2022 Player Outlook: Pitched Like An Ace In A Limited Sample
3 years agoBaz debuted in late 2021, throwing just 13.1 innings but posting a sparkling line of a 2.03 ERA, a 0.68 WHIP, a 37% K%, and a 6% BB%. It is wise to take those numbers with a large grain of salt, but they become a bit more believable when you look at what he did in the minor leagues. In 78.2 innings between AA and AAA, he gave up just 18 earned runs (a 2.17 ERA) while striking out 113 batters and walking just 13. Those are very impressive numbers regardless of who he put them up against, most young pitchers cannot get that many strikeouts while limiting walks to that extent. In the Majors, his four-seam fastball averaged 97 miles per hour and racked up a very high 13% SwStr% (on 108 offerings). He also posted excellent swinging-strike rates on his curveball (18.9%) and slider (23.8%). This is a very impressive pitch arsenal and an even more impressive minor league track record. Fantasy players seem privy to all of this, as Baz is being drafted in the top 150. The Rays are also not likely to let him exceed 150 innings next year, which takes away some of the upside, but the sky is the limit for what this kid can do while he's on the mound. It would be wise to buy in at this price while you can.
