What Rays’ Shane Baz is up to during rehab from Tommy John surgery

ST. PETERSBURG — The hardest part, obviously, is the waiting.

Shane Baz knows the plans. The Rays right-hander understands that the pace of his rehab following 2022 Tommy John surgery needs to be slow and deliberate.

But Baz was back on the bullpen mound Saturday afternoon and can’t help but get excited about next year.

“It’s the hardest thing to do once you get on the mound, because I feel good,” Baz said before the Rays’ 7-5 win over the Mariners at Tropicana Field. “And it feels like the mechanics have been better at a higher intensity and everything is smoother.

“But, it’s got to be a gradual build-up. … I think I’ve done a good job of pacing myself, but it is definitely the hardest part.”

Saturday, Baz threw long toss in the outfield, out to 180 feet, and then his second bullpen session since he was shut down with the elbow injury in July 2022. There is a possibility he could progress to throwing live batting practice in the instructional league by the end of the month.

But the next big step for Baz will be in the spring.

“I will have a pretty normal offseason,” he said, “and then it’s full-go in spring.”

Rehab from Tommy John is a long and pretty solitary experience, with most injured players reporting to the stadium hours before teammates arrive to do their work.

For Baz, it also has been a good time to work on his mechanics and pitches.

“I would say just making sure that my legs are doing what they should be and giving me a good base, because I feel like everything we’re pitching just starts with the ground and how you use the ground,” Baz said. “Me and Rick Knapp, the rehab pitching coach, have been working together. I’ve gotten to play for him a couple of times, and he’s been really good for me. Just another set of eyes to help me with that.

“But yeah, also definitely working on a little something with the change-up, too.”

Baz has tried to use his rehab time to prepare for his next chance to play, but he admits just getting on a mound again gets him looking ahead.

“It’s the first time I can remember being excited about spring training,” he said with a smile. “And it’s only September, and I am excited about spring training already.”

X-rays negative on Paredes’ wrist

Isaac Paredes left the game in the fourth inning after being hit in the right wrist by a pitch from Luke Weaver. X-Rays did not show any broken bones, and Paredes said he hopes to be back in the lineup soon.

Manager Kevin Cash said he plans to give Paredes Sunday off.

“I’m going to see how I feel tomorrow,” Paredes said through team interpreter Manny Navarro. “I’m going to do treatment at the house. I’ll see how I wake up (Sunday) and just see what happens when I get to the field.”

Paredes, who has been hit by 20 pitches this season, admitted he was concerned after taking the pitch off the side of his hand.

“At first I thought something could be broken,” he said, “but thank God everything came out OK.”

Adam progressing

Jason Adam, on the injured list with a left oblique strain, played what he called “a good game of catch” before the game. It was his second time throwing since being shut down on Aug. 31.

“I think the plan is to take an off day (Sunday) from throwing and then stretch it out pretty good on Monday,” he said.

Adam said he is asymptomatic, and Cash said the Rays are optimistic he could return around Sept. 19, when they return to the Trop to host the Angels.

“I think it’s still too early to tell, but we’re optimistic, cautiously optimistic, that he will be back,” Cash said. “Maybe sometime when we get home. But we all know obliques are very, very tricky.”

In other injury news, outfielder Manuel Margot, on the injured list following right elbow clean-out surgery, is scheduled to head to Triple-A Durham to play in a rehab game Tuesday.

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