Rays option Ryan Yarbrough ahead of Shane Baz’s return

Shane Baz, the top prospect in the Rays minor league system and No. 6 overall in baseball, according to Baseball America, is slated to make his return from the injured list in the coming series against Minnesota.

To make room, the Rays elected to option longstanding member of the rotation Ryan Yarbrough to the minors.

Yarbrough’s career with the Rays has been a rollercoaster. Promoted to the majors earlier than anticipated due to injury, he became the test case for the “bulk” concept as a pitcher operating on a starters rotation but entering the game behind an “opener.”

Concerns over precedent, in terms of his personal development as well as when it came to arbitration, have followed his…