The Tampa Bay Rays have officially added right-hander Jacob Waguespack to their roster on a minor league contract, and he has been invited to the big league camp as a non-roster invitee.
Waguespack, a product of Ole Miss, previously played in the MLB with the Toronto Blue Jays from 2019 to 2020. In his rookie season, he started 13 of 18 appearances, achieving a 4.38 ERA over 78 innings.
However, his performance declined in the following season, leading to his outright from the roster during Spring Training in 2021. After a stint in Triple-A in 2021, Waguespack joined Japan’s Nippon Professional Baseball with the Orix Buffaloes, where he had a successful debut season but faced challenges in the second year.
Despite struggling in his second NPB season with control issues, walking nearly 13% of opposing hitters, Waguespack maintained an impressive strikeout rate, striking out a third of batters faced. The Rays, known for shuttling bullpen arms between Triple-A Durham and the MLB, will assess Waguespack’s abilities during Spring Training. Expected to start the season with Triple-A Durham, Waguespack’s two remaining options provide flexibility for the Rays to move him to the minors if he secures a spot on the 40-man roster.
In a separate move, the Rays made a notable international signing by agreeing to terms with Leonardo Pineda, ranked as MLB.com’s No. 18 international prospect. The deal, reportedly worth $1.8 million, was part of a larger agreement with 23 players from the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, and Panama.
Pineda, an outfielder, is recognized for his dedication to becoming the best, displaying power and speed both defensively and on the basepaths. With impressive reaction times and instincts in the outfield, Pineda is projected to stick to center field but can adapt to corner outfield positions if needed.
At the plate, he possesses an effortless and repeatable swing, showcasing good bat speed, power to all fields, and an understanding of the strike zone. Pineda’s makeup and work ethic have also earned praise from scouts. The signing falls within the MLB international signing period, where players must turn 16 before signing and be 17 before September 1 the following year, making Pineda eligible.
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