During spring training, there have been plenty of arms to watch at Rays camp. However, one player who has stood out is Edwin Uceta. While the 26-year-old was optioned to the minors on Monday, he could be an option during the summer.
The talented right-hander posted a 1.93 ERA this spring in six outings while striking out 16 batters. He didn’t allow a hit and only walked two batters. Every time Uceta stepped on the mound, he excelled regardless of the situation.
For the Rays, Uceta’s performance was a welcome sign. He was signed to a minor league deal in December after a brief stint with the Mets. During his career, he has had a few chances in the majors but struggled with his limited opportunities.
Through 25 outings with the Dodgers, Diamondbacks, and Mets, Uceta has posted a 5.80 ERA and held opponents to a .223 batting average. He struck out 41 batters during that span but struggled with control, walking 21 batters.
While Uceta’s numbers don’t jump off the page, he showed promise in the Dominican Winter League. In 24 ⅔ innings of work, Uceta posted a 2.55 ERA. The Rays hope they can bring out the best in his arsenal and help him replicate those numbers.
Although Uceta is now in an organization that specializes in pitching, he has had a unique path to the Rays. During the 2023 campaign, he was claimed on waivers by the Tigers, Pirates, Mets, and Cubs. He finally passed through outright waivers in August.
As Uceta looks to build on his success, he has an intriguing arsenal with which to work. His fastball tops out at 95 miles per hour with rising action. He also possesses a changeup and curveball to keep batters off balance. That was on display during spring training.
The key for the Dominican native will be showing that his control issues are a thing of the past. He has swing-and-miss stuff but has run into trouble finding the zone at times. Part of his success over the past few weeks has been due to him limiting baserunners.
Even though Uceta will have to wait for his next opportunity in the majors, he has moved up on the depth chart. He will most likely start the 2024 campaign in Triple-A. However, the Rays will have to be careful with how he is used.
The Dominican native will be out of options entering the 2024 season. As a result he will need to stick on the active roster if called up or be exposed to waivers. If he can build on his success, that shouldn’t be an issue.
Regardless of what the future holds, Uceta could be an interesting depth piece. If he can finally find the consistency that has escaped him to this point in his career, the Rays pitching lab could have another success story to celebrate.
