ST. PETERSBURG - Brendan McKay made quite the major-league debut for the Rays on Saturday, retiring the first 16 batters he faced and 18 of 20 overall.
McKay, the 2017 first-round pick and touted two-way prospect, was cool and calm, in control and command from the start, taking a perfect game into the sixth, then allowing a one-out opposite field bloop single to Danny Santana. After a bunt, he walked Shin-soo Choo, then struck out Delino DeShields to get out of the inning with the Rays’ 3-0 lead intact.
McKay, 23, worked quickly and businesslike, throwing strikes and getting outs on balls put in play.