The Tampa Bay Rays' pickup basketball team just got a whole lot taller.
That's because their newest relief pitcher stands 6-foot-10.
The Rays called up right-handed pitcher Paul Gervase from Triple-A Durham on Saturday.
Gervase was a 12th-round draft pick by the Mets in 2022 and has always stood out because he's really, really tall.
Tampa Bay got him in a trade last summer, and he had a 3.57 ERA with Double-A Montgomery after his acquisition.
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This season at Durham, Gervase has struck out 43 batters in his last 27.1 innings. He has been pinpoint, walking only three guys in that span. His ERA over that great stretch is 3.29.
The Rays' bullpen already leads baseball in ERA at 3.11, and Gervase is a sneaky addition to the bunch.
Hitters aren't used to facing pitchers with such height, which makes picking up the ball out of the hand more difficult.
Gervase isn't a guarantee to stick around, but his ability to throw strikes, generate strikeouts and offer a different look to hitters is exactly what the Rays look for out of their relievers. He may be the perfect fit for Tampa Bay.
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