The Rays optioned Joe Boyle to Triple-A Durham this afternoon. They recalled swingman Brian Van Belle in a corresponding move, setting the 28-year-old up to make his MLB debut.
Boyle has held a spot in Kevin Cash’s rotation for the past month. Tampa Bay optioned and eventually traded Taj Bradley in part because they felt Boyle deserved a starting look. The hard-throwing righty had brilliant numbers out of the rotation in the minors (1.85 ERA with a 33% strikeout rate in 15 appearances) and looked similarly sharp in relief against big league opposition. His rotation audition hasn’t been as smooth.
Four of Boyle’s five recent starts have been underwhelming. While he fired five scoreless innings against the Dodgers on August 3, he gave up at least four earned runs in every other outing. That includes each of his past three. The Cardinals put up six runs (five earned) on nine hits and a trio of walks in four innings yesterday.
The Rays haven’t named a replacement in the rotation. Rookie lefty Ian Seymour seems the likeliest option. He turned in a 2.62 ERA with a 29% strikeout rate in 16 appearances out of Durham’s rotation. Seymour’s first 12 MLB outings have come in relief. He carries a 3.86 earned run average while fanning 27% of opponents.
Van Belle could also be a consideration, though it seems likelier he’ll pitch out of the bullpen. The former undrafted free agent has combined for a 3.17 ERA in 105 Triple-A frames divided between three organizations. The Rays acquired him from Cincinnati at the deadline as an ancillary piece of the Zack Littell trade.
A Miami product, Van Belle is approaching his 29th birthday and sits around 90 MPH with his fastball. He’s not really a prospect, but his plus changeup and elite control have fooled Triple-A hitters. Van Belle spent two days in the majors with the Red Sox in early June but didn’t make it into a game. He’ll hope to achieve that milestone with Tampa Bay and should be available in long relief behind scheduled starters Adrian Houser and Ryan Pepiot this weekend.
You’d think Forrest Whitley would get the call up again considering how good he’s been in the minors lately.
I was shocked the Sox DFA’d BVB. Hoping he finds some success here.
Mayb tampa shouldnt have demoted then traded taj
I know he sucked but so young, and still has potential
Joe “Festering” Boyle.
Give him a hot compress.
No, Rays always find ways to develop their young players, bring them up when it’s time and go on a good run of 4 or 5 seasons of play-off baseball all while doing so on a low payroll. Cubs dumpster dive, spend their money on too many reclamation projects and then Hoyer and Ricketts cry poor.
When he was a Reds minor league he could throw a baseball through a brick wall, problem was nobody knew where it was going. He’s good once or twice through the rotation before the opposition figures him out. Every coach he’s ever had probably said,” If he could only cut down on the walks and keep the speed.” Sorry guys, he can’t, which is why the Reds traded him to the A’s.