Random Ray of the Day: Nate or Nathan Eovaldi

Eovaldi has truly been run through the gauntlet during his career as a baseball player and he is still dealing with more than his fair share of issues. But at least it’s after the Boston Red Sox gave him a 4 year, $67.5M deal.

During his high school days, Eovaldi underwent his first Tommy John surgery. This pushed him back to the 11th round of the 2008 draft, taken by the Los Angeles Dodgers. After signing, Eovaldi quickly became one of the top prospects in all of baseball and eventually made his Major League debut at the ripe age of 21 in 2011.

Over the next few years, Eovaldi would enjoy considerable success with the Miami Marlins and New York Yankees, until he suffered a injury that ultimately led to a second Tommy John surgery.

The Tampa Bay Rays picked him up in February of 2017, signed to a two year deal, allowing him to rehab in 2017 and hopefully be ready for 2018. Eovaldi would be ready in 2018, but not before another setback cost him the first couple of months of the season. At last, Eovaldi made his debut and dominated as he no-hit the Athletics for six innings.

Eovaldi ultimately made 10 starts for the Rays, registering a 4.26 ERA / 4.28 FIP over 57 innings pitched. He was mostly excellent for Tampa Bay but one horrid 8-run outing against the Minnesota Twins skewed his numbers a bit.

The Rays traded Eovaldi at the trade deadline to the Boston Red Sox for LHP Jalen Beeks. Eovaldi would go on to be a postseason hero for the Red Sox in their 2018 World Series run. During the offseason, Eovaldi was rewarded with a four-year, $68M contract.

After missing the first half of 2019 with injuries, Eovaldi returned in the second half for Boston and struggled with an ERA close to 6.