Eflin makes good 1st impression with Rays after big deal

Zach Eflin struck out three of four Minnesota Twins batters on Thursday in his first spring training start. The right-hander signed a $40 million, three-year contract during the offseason, the most money the Rays have given to a free agent.

“Felt really good,” Elfin said. “Felt like I was in control. I felt like my offspeed was pretty good today, which is kind of a good foundation to start with.”

Eflin began last season in Philadelphia’s rotation but his last start was June 25 before being sidelined by right knee soreness. He returned Sept. 14 and made seven appearances out of the bullpen with a 1.17 ERA, then pitched in relief in 10 postseason games for the National League champions. He threw 4 1/3 scoreless innings over four World Series games.

His 2021 season was cut short by a torn patellar tendon in his right knee that required surgery. He had surgery on both knees in 2016, the same year he made his big league debut with the Phillies.

Eflin joins a Rays rotation that includes All-Star lefty Shane McClanahan and right-hander Drew Rasmussen. Tyler Glasnow, a 6-8 righty, is expected to miss six to eight weeks with an oblique injury.

Baseball came early to Tropicana Field and the Tampa Bay Rays will look to use it as an advantage. Four weeks before the regular season opener against Detroit, Tampa Bay faced Minnesota in its home ballpark.

The Rays split their spring training between the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Kissimmee and Tropicana Field because their own facility on Florida’s Gulf Coast was damaged by Hurricane Ian.

Tampa Bay has now shifted operations back to St. Petersburg for the rest of spring training.

Dodgers infielder Miguel Rojas told reporters that he is pulling out of the World Baseball Classic with Venezuela because he wants to focus on his role as the likely starting shortstop for Los Angeles.

The 34-year-old is expected to get more playing time following an injury to Gavin Lux, who tore ligaments in a knee this week and will miss the season.

“It’s definitely heartbreaking that I can’t go and participate with Venezuela,” Rojas told the Los Angeles Times. “The reason why is a new opportunity opened up for me — an opportunity to play every day at shortstop.”

Rojas said he’d likely get more at-bats during the spring with the Dodgers then he would in his expected utility role with Venezuela.

It was a double dose of less-than-encouraging news for the Colorado Rockies on Thursday.

Manager Bud Black said Gold Glove-winning second baseman Brendan Rodgers could be looking at surgery after he dislocated his left shoulder while diving for a grounder up the middle in a spring training game Wednesday.

Black also said left-handed reliever Lucas Gilbreath has been dealing with an elbow issue and may be facing Tommy John surgery.

Rodgers was the third overall pick by the Rockies in 2015. He hit .266 with 13 homers and 63 RBIs last season.

“This setback is a tough one,” Black said of Rodgers. “I do really think that he was ready for a big year. I think he was in great shape, he was in a good frame of mind mentally, confidence. Everything was pointed in the right direction for success. And now this is a setback.”

The Pittsburgh Pirates didn’t get a hit in their 9-1 exhibition loss against the Yankees until Matt Fraizer led off the bottom of the ninth inning with an infield single off non-roster right-hander Matt Bowman, the ninth New York pitcher.

Fraizer was erased on a double-play grounder, but Drew Maggi homered for the only Pirates run.

Each Yankees pitcher threw one inning. The first five were 40-man roster guys, with starter Lou Trivino followed by Wandy Peralta, Clay Holmes, Albert Abreu and Jimmy Cordero.

Top Yankees prospect Anthony Volpe led off the game with a homer. Rafael Ortega, who played for the Chicago Cubs the last two seasons, hit a two-run homer and had an RBI triple.

Infielder Rougned Odor started at second base for the Padres on Thursday after finalizing a minor league deal.

Manager Bob Melvin said Odor will get the opportunity to play this spring training since the Padres are short on infielders, especially with the upcoming World Baseball Classic.

Odor, a left-handed hitter, batted .207 in 135 games with Baltimore last season, after a year with the Yankees and seven with the Texas Rangers. He has a .231 career batting average with 174 home runs and 550 RBIs in 1,095 games. He also has 1,008 strikeouts and 252 walks.

• Red Sox catcher Connor Wong, projected to be the backup behind starter Reese McGuire, injured his left hamstring in Boston’s 15-3 win over Philadelphia.

“It doesn’t look great right now but hopefully we get better news (Friday) morning,” Boston manager Alex Cora said.

• Another Yankees catching prospect has been shut down.

Josh Breaux won’t throw for a week or two after because of an elbow issue after feeling discomfort while throwing earlier this week. That came with Austin Wells already out six to eight weeks with a broken rib.

Ben Rortvedt is out indefinitely after a procedure to deal with what Yankees manager Aaron Boone called “an aneurysm of his posterior artery” near his left shoulder. Rotevedt is one of three catchers on the New York’s 40-man roster, along with All-Star and Gold Glove-winning Jose Trevino and backup Kyle Higashioka.

• Rays infielder Yandy Díaz will be out at least a week with a hip flexor injury. Diaz hit .298 with nine homers, 57 RBIs and 71 runs scored last season. He was fifth in majors with his .401 on-base percentage.