The Tampa Bay Rays are planning to promote hard-throwing left-handed pitcher Shane McClanahan to be their starting pitcher for Thursday’s afternoon series finale against the Oakland Athletics.
The former first round draft pick, McClanahan, has yet to officially make his big league debut during the regular season. However, he made Major League history as the first pitcher to make his debut during the playoffs. Overall, he appeared in four games, registering 4 1⁄3 innings pitched and allowed five runs on eight hits, picking up four strikeouts and walking two.
Thus far in the young 2021 season, the Rays have not shied away from using their prized top pitching prospects with Brent Honeywell and Luis Patino having already made appearances for the team, with the latter remaining with the Rays for the foreseeable future.