What Rays fans can expect from the former A's flamethrower

Is he the next Tyler Glasnow?

Maybe, maybe not. Every pitcher is different, but the comparisons aren't completely out of left field for former Athletics hurler, Joe Boyle.

Boyle has put together one of the more interesting careers of any pitcher in baseball up to this point through his limited time in the majors; a massive whiff rate of 30.2% last year, but an equally huge walk rate of 17.7%, speaking to his massive stuff when it's in the zone and his inability to consistently throw strikes.

Luckily for the Rays, they have some pretty decent experience in fixing pitchers who have this issue.

Pete Fairbanks, Tyler Glasnow, and many others have come to the Rays and turned into quality pitchers through doing that fascinatingly hard thing of throwing strikes when you're dealing high-octane fastballs and devestating breaking pitches.

Boyle certainly features both of those things; his fastball averaged 99 MPH during his time in AAA last season, and he sat around 98 during his time at the major league level.

In this minors he also managed a 36% whiff rate, good for one of the best marks at that level, and he had the highest K-rate at a whopping 35.9%, some pretty gaudy stuff.

Boyle's slider has graded out particluarly well, especially over his 13 games with the A's in 2024, as he posted a 160 mark in Stuff+ for that pitch.

His curveball isn't too bad either, as it's been rated at a 105 over his first 2 seasons in the show.

His usage of those 3 pitches were mostly of the fastball-slider variety last year, but his 4% usage of the curve could go up as the Rays continue to encourage a bit more spin, assuming he can control it a bit better, but he got a 41% whiff rate on that pitch, too.

With 3 above-average pitches, Boyle projects to be a fun (and possibly great) starter at some point for the Rays, with a solid floor of a high-leverage arm that can come in and lock down an inning or two out of the bullpen.

Without a real spot in the Rays' rotation for this season, the logical thing for the Rays might be to let Boyle cook a bit more in Durham to start the year, as he has to get his walk issues under control before becoming a full-time starting pitcher.

Because while his profile might speak to someone who seems destined for the bullpen, he's started several games across his time in the minors and even in the majors.

He can start, and both he and the Rays will be happier if he's able to do so at the major league level.

So, while Boyle could pitch his ways to the majors more easily in the 'pen, it'd be better long-term for the Rays to ensure he's ready to start in the majors before rushing him despite what his "advanced" age might suggest (he's 25 about to turn 26; young for the real world, a bit old for a prospect).

He's hopefully going to be a prominent member of this Rays' pitching staff regardless of role moving forward.