|

Rays Summon 6’10” Reliever in Bullpen Shakeup

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla.—June 21, 2025
The Tampa Bay Rays unleashed baseball’s ultimate matchup nightmare Saturday, calling up 6-foot-10 reliever Paul Gervase to reinforce their injury-depleted bullpen. Minutes after arriving at Yankee Stadium, the towering right-hander fired two scoreless innings against the Bronx Bombers – his fastball exploding from a release point higher than most NBA players can jump.

The Giant Arrives

When Gervase strode into the Rays clubhouse Saturday afternoon, teammates gaped at the physics-defying sight: a pitcher whose fingertips brush the ceiling tiles. “I had to look up to hand him his jersey,” chuckled 6’1″ setup man Jason Adam. Manager Kevin Cash wasted no time deploying his new weapon, sending Gervase to the mound in the seventh inning of a tie game. With a wingspan stretching nearly eight feet, the 25-year-old unleashed fastballs that appeared to explode from behind hitters’ earholes. “It’s like facing someone throwing downhill from a stepladder,” Yankees hitter Gleyber Torres confessed after flailing at a 95-mph heater.

From Breadsticks to Baseballs

Gervase’s journey to the majors defies convention:

  • Overlooked Prospect: With zero college offers, he paid his way at Division III Pfeiffer University, where he topped out at 84 mph
  • Olive Garden Grind: Transferred to community college, serving fettuccine alfredo to cover tuition (“Extra breadsticks earned better tips!”)
  • The Wake-Up Call: When his father challenged his work ethic, Gervase rebuilt his mechanics – adding 10 mph to his fastball in one summer
  • LSU Breakthrough: After emailing 200 schools, he landed at LSU as a walk-on closer, parlaying it into a Mets draft pick

That $170,000 signing bonus? It paid off student loans before the Rays acquired him for journeyman Tyler Zuber last winter.

The Deception Factor

Gervase’s physical gifts create impossible angles:

  • Release Point: 7’4″ – higher than any active MLB pitcher
  • Perceived Velocity: 95 mph plays like 100+ due to reduced travel distance
  • Sweeper Slider: Darts away from lefties like “a wiffle ball in a hurricane” (per Rays pitching coach Kyle Snyder)

His Triple-A dominance forced this call-up: 50 strikeouts against just 10 walks in 33 innings, holding hitters to a .176 average. “He learned command isn’t about nibbling corners,” Snyder revealed. “We told him: ‘Aim middle. Let your stuff work.’”

Bullpen Emergency

The promotion responds to critical needs:

  1. Hunter Bigge’s Injury: Key reliever underwent facial surgery after a dugout comebacker shattered his cheekbone
  2. Workhorse Void: Gervase’s multi-inning capability eases strain on Pete Fairbanks and Jason Adam
  3. AL East Arms Race: With Baltimore calling up top prospect Jackson Holliday, Tampa needed a counter-punch

“Paul gives us a different look when games hang in balance,” Cash stated, hinting at high-leverage use against power lefties.

The Human Skyscraper

In the clubhouse, Gervase navigates practical challenges:

  • His size-17 cleats are custom-made in Japan
  • Bullpen carts become “clown cars” when he rides
  • Locker stalls require extension panels

Yet teammates cherish his humility. “He’s the guy lugging equipment bags through airports,” smiled starter Zack Littell. “Acts like he’s still earning his spot.” Because he is.

What’s Next

As Gervase boarded the team bus post-game, his phone buzzed with 217 texts – including one from LSU coach Jay Johnson: “Told you Olive Garden wasn’t forever.” For the Rays, this gamble on a giant could reshape pennant-race math. Every hitter stepping in against him now faces baseball’s ultimate optical illusion: a pitch that seems to fall from the sky.