Shane Baz Bio
Shane Austin Baz is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Tampa Bay Rays. Born on June 17, 1999, Baz started his professional career after being selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 2017 MLB Draft. He is recognized for his strong strikeout ability and has represented the United States on the international stage.
Baz is a right-handed starting pitcher whose journey through the minors and majors has included significant injury setbacks, most notably Tommy John surgery, from which he has returned to remain an effective major league arm.
Early Life and Background
Shane Austin Baz was born on June 17, 1999, to a Lebanese father, Raja, and an American mother, Tammy. His father was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and played soccer in his native country before moving to the United States at the age of 15. Baz grew up in the Tomball, Texas area, where his family settled after his father’s relocation.
He attended Concordia Lutheran High School in Tomball, Texas, where he quickly established himself as one of the most promising young arms in the region. As a junior at Concordia Lutheran, Baz posted a 1.06 earned run average (ERA) with 46 strikeouts across 23 innings pitched. His strong high school performance drew national attention and positioned him as a leading candidate for the upcoming MLB Draft.
Baz also represented his country as a member of the United States national team in 2016. Following his senior year, he committed to Texas Christian University (TCU) to play college baseball, signing with the Pittsburgh Pirates shortly after the 2017 draft rather than enrolling.
Path to Baseball
Coming out of Concordia Lutheran High School, Baz was widely regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in the 2017 MLB Draft class. His combination of size, velocity, and polish made him an attractive selection near the top of the first round. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 2017 draft, and he signed with the club a few days later.
Baz began his professional career that summer with the Gulf Coast League Pirates of the rookie-level Gulf Coast League. He posted an 0–3 record with a 3.80 ERA across 23 and two-thirds innings in his debut professional season. He was later recognized by MLB.com as Pittsburgh’s third-best prospect heading into the 2018 season. Before the trade that sent him to Tampa Bay, Baz also pitched for the Bristol Pirates of the Appalachian League.
Shane Baz Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
On August 14, 2018, Baz was acquired by the Tampa Bay Rays as the player to be named later in the trade that also sent Tyler Glasnow and Austin Meadows to Tampa Bay in exchange for Chris Archer. He was assigned to the Princeton Rays of the Appalachian League, where he split time with Bristol. Over 12 starts between the two clubs, he went 4–5 with a 4.47 ERA and a 1.62 WHIP.
Baz began the 2019 season in extended spring training before joining the Bowling Green Hot Rods in early May. Over 17 starts with Bowling Green, he went 3–2 with a 2.99 ERA, striking out 87 batters across 81 and one-third innings. His strong 2019 performance earned him a selection to the Arizona Fall League, where he pitched for the Salt River Rafters. He did not appear in a game in 2020 after the minor league season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tampa Bay Rays Breakthrough (2021–2022)
In June 2021, Baz was selected to play in the All-Star Futures Game. He was promoted to the major leagues on September 20, 2021, making his debut that same night at Tropicana Field against the Toronto Blue Jays. He started the game and threw five innings, allowing two earned runs on two hits, both home runs, while striking out five. Across three starts during his rookie campaign, Baz registered a 2-0 record and a 2.03 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 13 and one-third innings. He also made his postseason starting debut in Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox on October 8, 2021.
The 2022 season proved more difficult. On April 16, 2022, Baz was placed on the 60-day injured list as he recovered from arthroscopic elbow surgery performed in late March. He was activated on June 11 and made six starts for the Rays, posting a 1–2 record and a 5.00 ERA with 30 strikeouts across 27 innings. After a right elbow strain led to another injured list stint and a platelet-rich plasma injection, Baz underwent Tommy John surgery on September 28, 2022, ending his season. The procedure forced him to miss the entire 2023 season as well.
Baltimore Orioles Era (2024–Present)
Baz returned to action on May 23, 2024, when he was reinstated from the injured list and optioned to the Triple-A Durham Bulls. He made 14 starts for the Rays during the 2024 season, compiling a 4-3 record and a 3.06 ERA with 69 strikeouts across 79 and one-third innings. In 2025, he made 31 starts for Tampa Bay, registering a 10-12 record and a 4.87 ERA with 176 strikeouts across 166 and one-third innings pitched.
On December 19, 2025, the Rays traded Baz to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for prospects Caden Bodine, Slater de Brun, Austin Overn, Michael Forret, and a draft pick in the Competitive Balance Round A of the 2026 Major League Baseball draft. The trade marked the start of a new chapter for Baz in the American League East.
Notable Events and Milestones
Baz was named to the roster of the United States national baseball team for the 2020 Summer Olympics, held in Tokyo in 2021. He earned a 6.75 ERA across 2 and two-thirds innings in a single second-round start against Japan, allowing five hits and three walks but only two earned runs. The United States team went on to win the silver medal, falling to Japan in the gold-medal game. His major league debut on September 20, 2021, and his postseason start in the 2021 American League Division Series also stand as key milestones of his young career.
Shane Baz Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Baz comes from a family with international roots. His father, Raja, was born in Beirut, Lebanon, and played soccer in his native country before relocating to the United States at the age of 15. His mother, Tammy, is American. The family’s athletic background helped shape Baz’s early interest in competitive sports.
Personal Life
Public information about Baz’s personal life remains limited. He is known to be the son of Raja and Tammy Baz and was raised in the Tomball, Texas area.
2025 Season Performance
Baz’s 2025 season with the Tampa Bay Rays was defined by heavy workload and durability. He made 31 starts for the club, registering a 10-12 record and a 4.87 ERA with 176 strikeouts across 166 and one-third innings pitched. The innings total reflected his return to full health following his 2022 Tommy John surgery and a missed 2023 campaign.
Despite the sub-.500 record, Baz continued to miss bats at a high rate and served as a regular member of the Tampa Bay rotation. His durability and strikeout totals positioned him as a valuable trade asset, and on December 19, 2025, the Rays sent him to the Baltimore Orioles as part of a prospect package.
Heading into 2025, Baz joined an Orioles organization looking to bolster its starting pitching depth. His prior major league experience, postseason start, and Olympic silver medal with the United States national team give him a competitive resume as he begins his tenure in Baltimore.