Tampa Bay Rays Send Taj Bradley Down to AAA, Call Up Braden Bristo

One day after he made his major league debut, the Tampa Bay Rays have sent down top pitching prospect Taj Bradley to AAA Durham. He tossed five innings against the Boston Red Sox, allowing three earned runs and getting the win. Braden Bristo has been recalled in his place. The Rays are going for their 13th straight win to start the season.

One day after he made his major league debut, starting pitcher Taj Bradley has been sent to AAA Durham by the Tampa Bay Rays.

The Rays have called up Braden Bristo to serve as a bullpen arm.

Rays Select Braden Bristo, Option Taj Bradley https://t.co/TW1hFupuQK pic.twitter.com/VWCQQltdcZ

— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) April 13, 2023

Bradley is among the top 50 prospects in the sport and serves as the Rays overall No. 1 prospect, per the MLB.com rankings.

He threw five innings against the Boston Red Sox on Wednesday night, getting the win while allowing three earned runs and striking out eight.

Because he's been sent down, he has to wait at least 10 days until he can be recalled to the majors. 

For more on Bradley, here's a look at his profile from MLB.com: 

"After experiencing a velocity bump in late 2020, the 6-foot-2 right-hander now throws 94-96 mph with his heater, touching 98, and he spots it well around the zone. He calls his best secondary pitch a cutter, and we’ll do the same, even though it could land in the slider territory. All the same, the mid-80s offering breaks late and plays well off the fastball. An 89-91 mph split-finger changeup doesn’t offer a ton of separation but has given Bradley another suitable fading option against lefties, while his mid-70s curve is more for show in early counts.

Bradley hasn’t averaged more than 2.7 BB/9 in any of his full-season stops, and his athletic delivery should continue to help keep him throwing strikes."

In Bristo, the Rays are bringing up a guy who is hoping to make his major league debut. He's spent the last eight years trying to get to this point. He's spent seven years playing minor league baseball and didn't play anywhere during the 2020 COVID season.

He has a career 17-16 record in the minor leagues.

The Rays and Red Sox wrap up their series on Thursday afternoon at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Rays are looking to win their 13th straight game to start the season, which is the best start since 1987. Despite that great start, some people still aren't believers in Tampa. 

The Red Sox are looking to beat the Rays at Tropicana Field for the first time since April 22, 2022.

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