Tampa Bay Rays: Colin Poche pokes fun at inactivity during MLB lockout

Working his way back from Tommy John surgery with a Major League Baseball lockout in effect, Tampa Bay Rays relief pitcher Colin Poche seems, at least on Twitter, ready to take the mound on whatever field possible in order to get some competitive pitching under his belt.

How Tampa Bay Rays reliever Colin Poche poked fun at the inactivity currently in place with the MLB lockout in effect

Poche, who last pitched for the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2019 season before undergoing Tommy John surgery just before the pandemic-shortened 2020 campaign began and then rehabbing during the 2021 season, is reportedly preparing to once again make an impact for the Rays in 2022. However, his return to MLB and contact with his Rays-related coaches and physical trainers has been put on hold because of the lockout.

With that in mind, Poche jokingly took to Twitter to try to see if he could get in some pitching this offseason in non-MLB action.

Of course, a Twitter user decided to ask Poche if he could make an impact both hitting and pitching for whatever Little League team picks him up. Poche responded, “At the little league (sic) level, I can do it all. Anything above that, probably just pitch” followed by a crying laughing emoji.

Poche, who was reinstated to Tampa Bay’s 40-man roster in November, proved in his first MLB season that he certainly could pitch, appearing in 51 games for the Rays and striking out 72 batters in 51.2 innings while posting a 1.006 WHIP as opponents hit just .181 against him. However, nine home runs during that stretch helped push his ERA to 4.70 and FIP to 4.08 with an ERA+ of 94.

At 6-foot-3, it might be tough for the southpaw to pass for a Little Leaguer, but it’s good to know that Poche is keeping his sense of humor as the MLB lockout goes another day.