Shane Baz Shines in MLB Return: Fantasy Baseball Impact
In this story:
Thoughts about baseball players are fluid in spring training, as one must understand their feelings about a player while taking in their direction on the field. Here are my closing lines of Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane Baz's player profile over the winter:
Fantasy Outlook: The fun and excitement with Baz starts in 2025. He looks poised to give Tampa and fantasy teams meaningful innings, putting him on a path to post a sub-3.00 ERA and 175+ strikeouts with about 160.0 innings pitched.
As a drafter, I have this profile in my head, but should my thoughts be swayed by a terrible spring training (10 runs, 13 hits, two home runs, five walks, and four strikeouts over 9.1 innings)?
In his major league debut on Tuesday, Baz was an absolute beast against the Pirates. He pitched six shutout innings with seven hits, no walks, and 10 strikeouts, with 67.7% of his 95 pitches crossing home plate. His average fastball was about 97 mph, with exceptional success with his curveball (eight strikeouts).
Shane Baz Have A Night!
— Running From The OPS (@OPS_BASEBALL) April 2, 2025
6 IP, 7 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 10 K, 96 Pitches
13 Whiffs
30% Whiff%
35% CSW%
Max Fastball Velo: 100.4 MPH
His CB Was extremely effective tonight generating an impressive 50% whiff% and 53% CSW%. Baz dominated in his first start of 25’!pic.twitter.com/MpMligX3iw
Baz's dominant season debut reinforces the belief that spring training struggles shouldn't dictate long-term expectations, especially for a pitcher with his elite arsenal. If his command and velocity remain consistent, Baz has the potential to be a game-changer for both the Rays and fantasy managers, making him a must-watch arm as the season unfolds.
More Fantasy Baseball News:
Jurickson Profar Suspended 80 Games: Fantasy Baseball Impact
Fantasy Baseball Takeaways: Michael Busch, Devin Williams, More
30 MLB Teams, 30 Sleepers: 2025 Fantasy Baseball Breakout Stars
With 20+ years of experience in the high-stakes fantasy market, I aim to research and compete at the highest level in baseball and football each season. I've contributed as a writer/analyst for Sports Draft Daily, ScoutPro, Scout Fantasy, Fulltime Fantasy, FFToolbox, and Sports Illustrated Fantasy. I'm honored to be in the National Fantasy Baseball Championship Hall of Fame. My drafting philosophy is risk-averse yet open to betting on potential game-changers. I approach player selection with a neutral perspective, acknowledging that fantasy sports are inherently unpredictable due to injuries, performance dips, and managerial decisions. My work focuses on these main areas: - Season-long fantasy baseball and football - BestBall Baseball and Football Events - Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS): DraftKings, FanDuel, and Underdog - Long Shot Player Prop Parlays for NFL I participate in various leagues and contests, including NFBC, NFFC, RTSports, FFPC, DraftKings, Underdog Fantasy, FanDuel, and FFWC, with the goal of leveraging my extensive experience and research for success in each game format. A fantasy follower can expect in-depth profiles of NFL and MLB players, along with season-long and weekly projections for each fantasy football season. In addition, I have many strategy articles to help develop fantasy players' learning curves.
Follow Shawn__Childs