By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Blake Snell had control problems again on Tuesday. In Grapefruit League action, he gave up a run on a hit, along with five walks over 2 2/3 innings.
The Rays won the game 9-6 over the Baltimore Orioles. He also had a strikeout before being removed from the game.
He has had control problems as of late. Smell was expected to pitch five innings in the spring training game against the Orioles.
Last Thursday, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, the 24-year-old also experienced control problems. In this start, his left shoulder was flying open during his delivery.
He threw 60 pitches on Tuesday in a few innings. But with him struggling to get deeper into games, he’s having a hard-time to impress the Rays staff.
“This next outing is an important one for him,” Rays pitching coach Jim Hickey said. “He needs to get deep in the ballgame, at least into the fifth inning, because he hasn’t been close yet. We need to get over that hurdle real quick here.”
With his control problems, it’s not clear right now what the Rays plan to do with him. The team could push him deeper into the rotation as potentially a fourth or fifth starter. Or even move him into the bullpen until they believe he is ready to participate as a starting pitcher without control problems.
During his rookie season last season, Snell went 6-8 in 19 starts with the Rays. He had a 3.54 ERA in 89 innings.
He allowed 35 earned runs and 44 runs overall. Snell gave up five home runs on 93 hits.
Snell struck out 98 batters and walked 51.
