Pitcher Shane Baz found himself in unfamiliar territory as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.
In September 2022, Baz underwent Tommy John elbow reconstruction surgery that sidelined him for the entire 2023 season.
Prior to surgery, Baz looked poised to make a significant impact for the Rays. In his first nine major league starts, he posted a 4.02 ERA while striking out 28.9 percent of batters and walking just 7.2 percent.
His dominance was even more pronounced in the minors. He recorded a 1.68 ERA for the Triple-A Durham across the 2021 and 2022 seasons. But that momentum stalled following his elbow injury.
The Rays planned a gradual return for Baz in 2024, but an oblique injury in March landed him back on the injured list. Once healthy, Tampa Bay optioned him to Triple-A as he worked to rebuild command and consistency.
But Baz began to fear the injury had permanently altered the trajectory of his career.
“My stuff wasn’t good,” Baz said. “I wasn’t throwing strikes. I was getting hit around. There’s doubts where, ‘Am I ever going to get back to the big leagues? Am I ever going to be back to what I was before or even close to it?’ There’s times that players go through where you almost feel like you’re treading water.”
Baz returned to Tampa Bay’s rotation in July and finished 2024 strong, posting a 3.06 ERA in 14 starts. But in his first full season back, he took a step back. In 2025, Baz logged a 4.87 ERA across 166.1 innings with the Rays but still provided durability with 31 starts and maintained a fastball averaging 97 mph.
Despite the slight regression, Baz’s track record prior to surgery and his ability to stabilize after a turbulent return convinced the Orioles to bet on his upside.
That belief led Baltimore to acquire him in December 2025, sending four prospects — outfielder Slater de Brun, catcher Caden Bodine, right-hander Michael Forret and outfielder Austin Overn — along with a draft pick to Tampa Bay in exchange for Baz.
That roller-coaster journey from showing early promise to surgery rehab to inconsistent returns reshaped how Baz was valued. By the time he arrived in Baltimore, the team wasn’t just evaluating where he had been. The Orioles were about to make a bigger bet on what he could add to their rotation.
That belief carried into spring training discussions, when the sides began talking about a long-term commitment. A five-year, $68 million contract extension was announced on March 27.
For Baz, the deal represents more than financial security. It provides stability at a point in his career defined by uncertainty.
“It’s very relieving,” Baz said. “I think that’s what every player wants in this game at some point, is just to be paid what they feel like they’re worth. I felt like I wasn’t asking for anything crazy. They were very good about meeting me for what my needs were. I’m just super thankful that it worked out.”
Apart from the immediate relief, Baz said the extension hasn’t changed his day-to-day approach so much as expanded it, giving him room to try new things.
With his long-term security in place, Baz is extremely willing to take risks and experiment with his approach — part of what he sees as necessary learning experiences for his evolution.
“It kind of frees me up to try new stuff and be a little bit more experimental sometimes, which can be really, really good,” Baz said. “It’s nice to know that I’ll be somewhere for a little while, and I think it’ll benefit just my performance in the long run.”
At his best, Baz sees himself as more than just a rotation arm. He envisions a pitcher who takes the ball every fifth day and consistently gives his team a chance to win.
That vision has also shaped how he approaches the day-to-day work of pitching. That means not chasing perfection but pushing for incremental improvement each outing.
Moving forward, one of Baz’s main goals is to improve his ability to recognize swings in an effort to limit the guesswork on what pitches to throw.
That balance between power, precision, aggression and efficiency will be a critical part of Baz’s learning curve as he settles into his role with the Orioles.
“Just never being too comfortable or too complacent about stuff like that is my goal, day in and day out,” Baz said. “I think God’s given me a lot of ability, and I think it’s up to me just to push it as far as I can and really do everything like I’m doing it for Him.”
Photo Credit: Colin Murphy/PressBox