PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla – Beginning with remarks at the end of last season, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told listeners the Rays’ 2025 starting rotation held great potential.
The core of this optimism centered around lefthander Shane McClanahan and his capacity to return to glory. The complement of right-handers Shane Baz, Ryan Pepiot, Zack Littell, and Taj Bradley created a traffic jam which Cash held as quite envious. Of those cited, perhaps Bradley possesses the most intrigue.
Here’s a player with whom the Rays believe is destined for achievement. With lightening stuff, a strong work ethic and an equal level of responsibility, Bradley was considered the cornerstone of the future.
Then, disaster.
While warming up for a spring start last season against Baltimore, Bradley sustained a right pec strain and started the season on the Injured List. Never fully recovered, he managed an 8-11 season for 25 starts and 4.11 ERA. Boosted by his final 2024 start of of six shutout innings at Boston, Bradley allowed three hits, walked one and struck out seven batters. That effort provided a trajectory of determination and resolution into the off-season.
The potential of a lethal arm remains an integral part of his portfolio and Bradley started the 2025 season in what could be a commanding position. Earlier this spring, Cash told reporters that of the starters in his corral, Bradley has the best opportunity to remain healthy, and productive, the entire season.
“I guess I’m old school because I want to start 32, 33 games and pitch over 200 innings,” he said Tuesday after his initial start of the spring against the Phillies. “From last season, I had the tools and just needed to get more reps. More so, it was just mental and going through the hard times with a smile on your face. I mean, the sun will shine again.”
If the first inning of his initial spring start is an indication, Bradley is in a good spot. His first pitch of the game to Johan Rojas was clocked at 98 miles-per-hour and his velocity remained consistent on Tuesday.
In two and one-third innings, Bradley, who will be 24 years old on March 20, threw 23 pitches and 14 for strikes.
In a pitcher’s first start of the spring, the goal is usually two innings. Instead, Cash sent Bradley out for the third inning. After left-fielder Justin Crawford grounded to second, Cash made a move to the bullpen and gave Bradley those 23 pitches.
While his velocity was impressive, Bradley disclosed experimentation with a new pitch designed to make hitters think.
“I’m working more on that slider-cutter thing,” he revealed. “It’s a sub-conscience thing to let lefties know that something is new. It sounds more like a 5-pitch mix. It’s something to get under the bat. I want to make sure pitches are not tunneling the same.”
Should Bradley reach his goal of 32, 33 starts and the durable benchmark of 200 plus innings, the Rays should have a strong complement to McClanahan, whom Cash wants to believe remains the heart and soul of his rotation.
On the diamond … the Rays fell to 1-3 on the spring with a 5-4 loss to the Phillies on Tuesday before 3,226 at Charlotte Sports Park. With the game tied at 3-3, Phillies’ first baseman Carson Taylor, a non-roster invitee, blooped an RBI single to center to break the tie in the seventh. Rafael Lantigua then singled in Rodolfo Castro to forge a 2-run Philly margin. The Rays’ Brayden Taylor scored Ricardo Genoves on a sacrifice fly to create that final one-run margin … Rays’ left-hander Mason Montgomery appeared in his initial game this spring and displayed signs of a potential closer. While Cash will rely heavier on Montgomery as his main lefty in the bullpen (with Richard Lovelady and Colin Poche gone), the 24-year-old out of Leander, Tex., was impressive. In his one inning Tuesday against the Phillies, he started shortstop Aiden Miller, the Phillies number 2 prospect, off with a 96-per-hour fastball before Miller grounded out to second. Crawford, the Phillies, number three in the Phillies pipeline, faced a 97-miles-per-hour fastball before he grounded out to third. First baseman Otto Kemp flied to right to end a 1-2-3 frame, and Montgomery left drawing praise from manager Kevin Cash, who simply said, “Mason Montgomery, another good inning.”
