Tampa Bay traded Zach Eflin to O's and then brought club up to speed on the pitcher

When Tampa Bay Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder reached out to Orioles pitching coach Drew French to talk about righty Zach Eflin it was a bit unusual. It happened not long after the July 26 deal that made Eflin an Oriole and sent three minor leaguers to the Rays.

Snyder was showing great friendship and support for a pitcher he had a wonderful relationship with in Tampa. Even though he would be helping a division rival, this was a case where a couple of personal relationships seemed to top wins and losses.

One was Snyder’s close relationship with Eflin. The other was his emerging friendship with French. That one all started in Florida during spring training in a unique way.

“I actually got connected with Kyle this spring,” French explained during the O's last homestand. “I was staying in Sarasota at the previous home of the Rays trainer Joe Benge (formerly with the Orioles). We talked about Kyle a lot, someone I respected from afar. So, later we got connected and talked several times during spring training.

“When the trade did go down, he did reach out and said I’ve got some info. It is really about respect for the transition of the player that we know what his routine looks like, what his side days are. Just kind of the in-between stuff. In the same division, there is usually not a ton of company secrets thrown out between us. But it was some general stuff that helped us know the player better. Kyle really helped with that.”

All credit to Eflin for how well he has pitched with the Orioles, going 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in four starts. But the jump start the O's got on a new player with the help of a division-rival sure didn't hurt Eflin or the O's coaches. 

Eflin had made 50 starts with the Rays, beginning in 2023. He and Snyder got close. Snyder had joined the Rays in their minor leagues in 2012 and later becoming the major league pitching coach in 2018.

“The great thing about Kyle Snyder is not only is he a rock star in terms of baseball and understanding pitching, but just like his personable side, the relationships he builds with players,” said Eflin. “We will be friends for life, and it has nothing to do with him reaching out, but more so just the past year and a half, being around him so much. The man he is, the father he is, the husband he is. He is such a great role model and mentor. Forever grateful for him.

“It is hard to explain how much he means to you as a player. You hope to find those guys in life just in general. But to have him as a pitching coach, just a tremendous amount of respect for Kyle Snyder.”

Snyder is clearly a big reason the Rays pitching and pitching development is so respected in the sport.

“I’d say he is the biggest reason,” said Eflin.

By the way, Eflin pitched Aug. 9 at Tropicana Field against Tampa Bay. He threw seven scoreless innings and has allowed one run in his last two O's starts against the Rays and Red Sox. 

So, he gets to Baltimore, and they already feel they know him a bit after Snyder reached out. The O’s coaches took it from there with some of their own pointers and tweaks for Eflin.

“I think a bunch of different things have helped (since I got here),” Eflin said. “Being able to have a head start on this organization understanding who I am as a player, definitely helped. Sequencing, throwing the cutter more, has helped. Feeling healthy is big. But grateful to be here with the Orioles.”

Where he is finding a smart, forward-thinking organization just like the one he came from.

“Very, very similar. It is refreshing to know that all the stuff that is applied in Tampa, is applied here in Baltimore. And I really didn’t dive into all the analytics stuff until last year when I got with Tampa. I think it has helped me tremendously,” said Eflin.

Added French: “When Zach walked in the door, I think he felt some comfort in knowing Kyle and I had spoken. We asked more questions but just wanting to make sure he’s really solid and had all he needs from us.”

Eflin has looked really good early on here for the Orioles. I asked French how much potential does he have? Are we seeing his top-end range right now?

“I don’t know. I’ve seen him a lot and was in the division with him when he was in Philly. Quite honestly, I think he has gotten better the last couple of years. I don’t think he’s reached his peak yet. There are still certain things we are trying to chip away at.

“He’s dynamic. And he’s versatile. And we like the complimentary stuff that he brings, and we like the presence that he has out there and in the clubhouse. He’s a really good add for us.”

That is for sure. And his move to Baltimore from Tampa Bay was made much easier and smoother when Snyder grabbed his phone and called French.

Farm promotion: The Orioles are sending a top 30 prospect from Double-A Bowie to Triple-A Norfolk. Jud Fabian is moving on up after playing 98 games with Bowie and batting .233/.326/.432/.758 with 16 doubles, a triple, 18 homers and 58 RBIs. Fabian is the co-homer leader in the Eastern League at the time of this promotion. He has a .943 OPS in 15 games this month.

He is ranked as the club's No. 11 prospect by Baseball America and No. 13 via MLBPipeline.com. He was drafted No. 67 overall in the 2022 draft from the University of Florida. A plus defender, he played mostly center field for the Baysox.

Bowie beat Altoona yesterday 6-2 and right-hander Alex Pham stayed on a solid pitching roll. He became the first Baysox pitcher to go seven innings, allowing three hits and two runs. Since July 11, Pham has an ERA of 1.87 over 33 2/3 innings. He is ranked as the O's No. 25 prospect via BA and No. 27 by MLBP.