Jeff

Niemann

Niemann, the fourth overall pick in the draft, is expected to get a major league contract from Tampa Bay.

The Philip Humber signing should make negotiations easier for both sides. Niemann was drafted fourth overall, one pick after Humber.

He’s been out with shoulder inflammation.

Niemann is working his way back from shoulder inflammation.

He fanned eight. Niemann is 3-4 with a 2.78 ERA, 40 H and 60/17 K/BB in 55 innings since returning from shoulder surgery. The Rays might decide to be careful with him and deny him a September callup, but it’d be interesting to see what he could do in the rotation during the final month.

The 2004 first rounder is recovering from offseason shoulder surgery. Once healthy he could move quickly through the minors.

Niemann is coming back from October shoulder surgery. He no longer seems likely to make his major league debut this season, but we wouldn’t rule it out.

It looks like the current plan is for Niemann to end the year in the minors and then go pitch in the Arizona Fall League. It’s a bit of a shame, since of all the starting pitchers the Rays have in the minors, he’s probably the most ready to contribute in September. He’s allowed 49 hits, walked 22 and struck out 71 in 66 innings for Montgomery.

Niemann has a 3.86 ERA and a 26/6 K/BB ratio in 21 innings since returning from shoulder surgery last month. If he keeps this up, a September debut in the majors would be a possiblilty.

Niemann had the start pushed back due to soreness in his upper back, but it’s not the back that forced him from the game. The big right-hander labored through a 38-pitch first inning in which he gave up two runs, and Maddon had seen enough. “I didn’t see the normal snap on the breaking ball, and I didn’t see the normal velocity,” Maddon said. “He was not looking like he normally does, so I thought, ‘Why wait?’” Alex Toress followed Niemann with five shutout innings, so Maddon’s move paid off.