Tampa Bay Rays acquire RHP Mason Englert from the Detroit Tigers

The Rays have added another pitcher to their large mix of bullpen options

The Tampa Bay Rays have acquired right-handed pitcher Mason Englert from the Detroit Tigers for minor league left-handed pitcher Drew Sommers; the Rays have placed Rule-5 draft pick Nate Lavender on the 60-day Injured List to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.

Englert, 25, was originally selected by the Texas Rangers in the 4th round of the 2018 draft. He was named their 11th best prospect entering the 2019 season, but unfortunately would have to undergo Tommy John surgery prior to making his professional debut derailing a promising career. Since then, Englert has climbed his way up the ladder and would be taken by the Tigers during the 2022 Rule 5 draft.

Englert would stick with Detroit’s big league pen for the first half of the 2023 season, but suffered a hip issue in July. This allowed the Tigers to place Englert on the 15-day Injured List and then on a rehab assignment in the minor leagues for the rest of the season to circumvent the Rule 5 draft restrictions.

This past season, Englert was up and down with the Tigers and compiled a 5.40 ERA | 4.92 FIP with a 17.2 K% & 5.4 BB% over 21 2⁄3 innings pitched.

Englert possesses excellent command and has an above average change-up and slider.

Sommers, 24, was an 11th round selection by the Rays in the 2022 draft. He has spent the past two years moving up from Single-A to High-A, pitching exclusively out of the bullpen. This past season, he compiled a 4.00 ERA | 2.85 FIP with a 27.9 K% & 8.6 BB% over 54 innings pitched in High-A.