Rays Sign Left-Hander Jake Brentz to Minor League Deal

The Tampa Bay Rays have signed left-handed pitcher Jake Brentz to a minor league contract. The deal likely includes an invite to big league Spring Training.

Brentz, now 30, was originally an 11th-round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2013. After moving through the minor leagues with the Mariners and Pirates, Brentz faced challenges at the Triple-A level, leading to his release by Pittsburgh in 2019. The Kansas City Royals saw potential in him and signed him to a minor league contract, although he only pitched 5 1/3 innings at Double-A before the season ended.

The cancelled minor league season in 2020 delayed Brentz's first full season with the Royals. However, he continued to develop at the Royals' alternate training site during MLB's shortened 60-game season. His performance earned him a spot in the Royals’ Opening Day bullpen despite not pitching at Triple-A for the organization.

Brentz made a strong debut in the majors, posting a respectable 3.66 ERA over 64 innings in 72 games as the Royals' primary left-handed relief option. While his 13.3% walk rate was a concern, his 27.3% strikeout rate, 49% groundball rate, and a fastball that reached 97mph made him an intriguing bullpen asset. At 26, he was viewed as a promising fixture in the Royals' bullpen for the future.