Tampa Bay Rays News and Links: Blake Snell Optioned to AAA Durham

Top Rays prospect Blake Snell made his MLB debut yesterday, hurling 5 innings of rising four seam fastballs and sky hook curveballs. The Yankees hitters struggled to square up any of his offerings. Nomo.Red.Evil has the full recap here.

Snell was optioned back to AAA Durham after the game to bring in a fresh bullpen arm and keep his service time clock as low as possible. In his place, RHP Jhan Marinez was called up and will be added to the 40 man roster.

#Rays have called up RHP Jhan Marinez to join bullpen, send Snell back to Durham

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) April 23, 2016

Jhan has been quite effective at the AAA level since coming to the Rays in 2015.

Today LHP Drew Smyly will try to give the Rays a win in New York as he takes the mound vs RHP Michael Pineda and the Yankees.

Links

- Mike Podhorzer tries to figure out what's wrong with Chris Archer.

- Baseball America reviews Snell's debut, noting two versions of curve balls used.

- Prospect Hunter Wood allowed 1 hit over 7.0 IP for the A+ Charlotte Stone Crabs yesterday, striking out 6 and inducing 11 groundballs.