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Tampa Bay Rays: Getting to know Casey Sadler

By Austin Reimann

MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 12: Casey Sadler #65 if the Pittsburgh throws in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 12, 2015 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jeffrey Phelps/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI - APRIL 12: Casey Sadler #65 if the Pittsburgh throws in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park on April 12, 2015 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Jeffrey Phelps/Getty Images) /
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The Tampa Bay Rays added to their pen depth yesterday with the minor league signing of Casey Sadler. Here is a closer look at the Rays newest addition.

The Tampa Bay Rays signed Casey Sadler and invited him to big league camp later next month. Sadler, a native of Oklahoma has big league time with the Pirates, just over 19 innings across three seasons. While his big league resume isn’t extensive, his minor league resume is.

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The 28-year-old right-handed reliever attended Western Oklahoma State Junior College and was drafted in the 25th round of the 2010 draft. Sadler would sign with the Pirates for $100,000 and begin his professional career. He rose steadily through the minors as a starter and by the end of the 2014 season was a top-20 prospect in the Pirates system in the eye of Baseball America.

He made his major league debut in 2014, making 6 appearances out of the pen. He would get another taste of the bigs the following season, making 1 start. Sadler underwent Tommy John surgery in November following the 2015 season. It would take him 2 years but he finally returned to a major league field this past season where he appeared in 2 games.

Sadler MLB statistics: 

9G/1GS // 19.2 IP // 6.86 ERA // 15K/9BB // 1.73 WHIP

Sadler MiLB statistics:

190G/91GS // 718.2 IP // 3.44 ERA // 495K/188BB // 1.22 WHIP

Baseball America had this to say about Sadler when he cracked the Pirates top-30 rankings in 2014:

"Sadler gets good sinking action on a fringe-average 90-91 mph fastball that will occasionally hit 94 and induce batters to hit the ball on the ground. He also mixes in a slider and changeup. Though both rate as average pitches, they work to keep hitters off his sinker. While Sadler is not overpowering, he is not afraid to attack the strike zone and rarely hurts himself with walks. He fields his position well and controls the running game, and his poise and mound presence would play well in the bullpen."

Here is a video from FanGraphs of Sadler pitching in 2014:

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