ST. PETERSBURG (WDAE) - After Sunday's 18-inning victory over the Minnesota Twins, Rays manager Kevin Cash said some roster moves involving the pitching were likely to happen, but the team has decided the wait for their top pitching prospect has ended.
Brendan McKay, Tampa Bay's top pick from 2017, will be called up from Triple-A Durham, and is expected to make his Major League debut as early as Saturday against the Texas Rangers.
McKay, taken out of the University of Louisville with the fourth overall pick in 2017 and developed as a two-way player, started the 2019 season in Double-A Montgomery, going 3-0 with a 1.30 ERA in seven starts and a relief appearance, but hitting just .165 with eight RBI against Southern League pitching. He was called up to Triple-A following his start on May 22, and his bat picked up while his arm did not drop off. He has gone 3-0 with a 1.08 ERA in five appearances, including four starts with the Bulls, while he hit .265/.400/.551 with four home runs and ten RBI in just 60 plate appearances.
The team will have to make a move on both the active and 40-man rosters, as McKay is not currently on the big league roster.
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times was first to report the call up.