Rays’ Nate Eovaldi and Xavier Cedeno to begin rehab assignments

The Tampa Bay Rays announced today they’ll be sending right-handed pitcher Nate Eovaldi and left-handed pitcher Xacier Cedeno to Double-A Montgomery to begin rehab assignments with the team as they partake in the minor league playoffs.

The Rays signed Eovaldi this past off-season to a two year deal with the hopes he’d be ready by 2018. He underwent his second Tommy John Surgery in August of 2016. A major league veteran in his seventh season, Eovaldi is a former top-100 prospect who can throw extreme heat, touching triple digits at times. He has experience in the American League East, having spent the past two seasons with the New York Yankees.

Xavier Cedeno broke camp with the Rays following spring training, but something was certainly amiss during his first few outings and he’d was promptly placed on the disabled list with what was said to be forearm issues. When healthy, Cedeno has been a highly effective pitcher against left-handed bats.

The Rays are planning to give both pitchers around two-to-three outings apiece, then activate them. Both players are currently on the 60-day disabled list and would require spots on the 40-man roster if they are to join the Rays active roster this season.