Tampa Bay Rays: Ryan Sherriff Making Case for 1st Opening Day Roster

Lights Out

In 2013 he ruled over the competition with a giant iron hammer that only he and Thor could use to build a wooden deck. ‘The Officer on Duty’ (the nickname I just coined for him) registered a 2.31 ERA in 78.0 innings pitched at High-A Palm Beach.

He was named Starting Pitcher of the Year again in 2013.

After causing total destruction in Palm Beach the Cardinals moved him to Springfield, Illinois. This was a good move for his career but had to be a geographical bummer. He didn’t let the fact that he was in Illinois discourage him as he cruised to a 3.33 ERA.

Starting Pitcher of the Year Becomes a Reliever

The following season he transitioned from Springfield to AAA-Memphis. He only received four innings of playing time in Triple-A, but he made it. He was one step from “The Show.” He transitioned from a starter to a reliever this season.

Sherriff bounced between Double-A and Triple-A in 2015 and became a fixture in Memphis in 2016. During the 2016 season in AAA-Memphis, opposing hitters might as well have come to the plate in their pajamas because Sherriff was lights out…as in bedtime.

He earned a spot on in the Arizona Fall League at the end of the season. The Arizona Fall League is where each team sends six of their top prospects to compete at the end of the season. He was knocking on the door of the majors.

He posted a 2.84 ERA over 66.2 innings with an elite 59.2% groundball rate. Prior to the 2017 season, the former late-round draft pick was on some important radars. He was selected to participate in the World Baseball Classic as representative of team Israel.