TAMPA, Fla. – Maybe all Forrest Whitley needs is a change of scenery. Given how they do business, it should come as no surprise the Rays are willing to find out.
The Rays acquired the righthanded Whitley, the 17th-overall selection of Houston in 2016, on Friday for cash considerations. Hence, there is certainly no risk in acquiring the Texan, especially with the work pitching coach Kyle Snyder has done in propelling the careers of numerous pitchers.
The 27-year-old spent nine years in Houston’s system and between the pandemic and injuries he pitched only 70 innings in a four-year (2020-23) stretch. Whitley made his MLB debut last year and had eight appearances in two seasons with the Astros.
READ: Rays Begin Homestand Having Won 19 Of 25; Brandon Lowe, Yandy Diaz Sizzling At The Plate
“At some point, things were not working out,” he said prior to Monday night’s 7-1 win against the Orioles, whom he put down in order in the ninth. “So, I kind of thought a change of scenery would help me. We’ll see.”
There is a familiar face, though, in the Rays’ clubhouse. Whitley is good friends with Shane Baz, who he called after he was acquired. The pitchers worked out together in Houston when they were teens.
“I am really excited that he is, certainly a Ray, but he is so close with Baz because I think they can lean on each other,” said manager Kevin Cash. “Anytime that you come to a new team and you know somebody that you are pretty close with, that has to help.”
Certainly, the Rays, who added Whitley to the active roster Monday and sent Mason Englert to Triple-A Durham, have a reputation when it comes to straightening out pitchers.
READ: Rays Starting Pitching Has Fueled Recent Surge
“They have such a really solid track record in turning careers around,” said Whitley, who Houston designated for assignment June 8, one day shy of nine years from the date he was drafted. “I’m pumped. (Tampa Bay) was actually one of the organizations I was hoping for. I feel like I’m in a really good spot.”
Ironically, when they acquired him, Whitley was unscored upon in five of his eight career appearances. He was tagged pretty good, and by the same team, in the other three outings. That team? Why of course, the Rays. In the three games against the Rays, each in an 11-day stretch last month, Whitley yielded 10 earned runs in 3 1/3 innings.
So far, so good in a Tampa Bay uniform. Whitley followed a scintillating eight-inning effort by Ryan Pepiot on Monday evening with a one-two-three ninth to close out the win.
“I was happy for him to have a clean inning,” said Cash.
In 117 minor league games, including 65 starts, Whitley is 17-20 with a 4.75 ERA.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
