The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired right-handed pitcher Mason Englert from the Detroit Tigers in exchange for minor league left-handed pitcher Drew Sommers. The Rays have also placed Rule-5 draft pick Nate Lavender on the 60-day Injured List to free up a spot on the 40-man roster.
The Texas Rangers selected Englert, 25, in the fourth round of the 2018 draft. He was considered their 11th greatest prospect for the 2019 season, but Tommy John surgery before making his professional debut derailed a bright career. Since then, Englert has worked his way up the ladder and will be selected by the Tigers in the 2022 Rule 5 draft.
Englert would remain in Detroit’s big league bullpen for the first half of the 2023 season, but he sustained a hip injury in July. To avoid the Rule 5 draft limitations, the Tigers placed Englert on the 15-day Injured List before sending him on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues for the rest of the season.
In 21 2⁄3 innings thrown, Englert had a 5.40 ERA, 4.92 FIP, 17.2 K%, and 5.4 BB%.
Englert has exceptional command and an above-average change-up and slider.
Sommers, 24, was selected by the Rays in the 11th round of the 2022 draft. He has spent the last two years advancing from Single-A to High-A, pitching primarily from the bullpen. In 54 innings worked in High-A this season, he had a 4.00 ERA, 2.85 FIP, 27.9 K%, and 8.6 BB%.
