Fleming Added to Rays Spring Training Roster
Former Webster University All-American pitcher Josh Fleming earned a non-roster invitation to the Tampa Bay Rays Major League Baseball spring training camp roster.
Fleming, who was a fifth-round selection (139th pick overall) of the Rays in the 2017 MLB Draft, is one of 62 players that will begin the opening of spring training camp next week with the Rays, who train at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Fla. The Rays pitchers and catchers will begin their first spring workouts on Thursday, Feb. 13.
In his third minor league season in 2019, Fleming, who finished the 2019 season at Triple-A Durham, was named the MVP of the Double-A Montgomery Biscuits of the Southern League by the Rays after making 21 appearances on the mound for the Biscuits.
During his time with Montgomery, Fleming, who is a left-hander and a mid-season All-Star for Montgomery, posted an 11-4 record and a 3.31 ERA with the Biscuits. In 21 appearances and 17 starts, Fleming tossed 127.2 innings and allowed just 47 earned runs. In those 127.2 innings of work, he recorded 92 strikeouts and walked just 19 and tossed back-to-back nine-inning complete games in late July that helped Fleming earn Southern League Pitcher of the Week honors.
After his promotion to Durham on Aug. 13, Fleming went 1-3 with a 5.14 ERA as he made four appearances and three starts. In 21 innings of work, Fleming allowed 12 earned runs, walked eight and struck out 16.
For the 2019 season at both the Double and Triple-A levels, Fleming went a combined 12-7 with a 3.57 ERA. He made 25 appearances, including 20 starts and tossed three complete game and one shutout. In 148.2 innings of work over two teams, Fleming allowed 151 hits, 70 runs, 59 earned runs, walked 27 and recorded 108 strikeouts. On the year, he had a combined WHIP of 1.20.
Since beginning his professional career with Princeton (W.Va.) in the Appalachian League in the summer of 2017, Fleming has posted a 22-13 record and a 3.40 ERA in 56 appearances and 46 starts for five different teams. In his professional career, he has tossed four complete games, one shutout and in 294 career innings, he has recorded 214 strikeouts and walked just 53.
After pitching in 12 games at the Rookie-level with Princeton, Fleming, who was named the D3Baseball.com Pitcher of the Year in 2017, began the 2018 season with Bowling Green (Ky.) in the Class-A Midwest League, before being promoted to High A Port Charlotte (Fla.) in the Florida State League. In 2018, Fleming went a combined 9-4 with a 2.53 ERA at the Single-A level and then opened the 2019 season at Double-A Montgomery, before his mid-August promotion to Triple-A Durham.
STORY COURTESY OF WEBSTER UNIVERSITY SPORTS INFORMATION
