PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- When Zach Eflin signed a franchise-record free-agent contract for three years and $40 million last offseason, the Rays knew what they were getting in some respects.

They expected an experienced pitcher with elite command who could reach another level of performance with their help. They got that, and then some, as Eflin finished sixth in the American League Cy Young Award voting after putting up an AL-leading 16 wins and a career-best 3.50 ERA.

They thought they could help him stay on the field more than he’d been able to in Philadelphia, where he battled through knee issues. He did that, making a career-high 31 starts and a team-leading 177 2/3 innings, the most by a Rays pitcher since Charlie Morton in 2019.

And they knew he was a highly respected teammate who could positively impact some of their younger players. On that front, they got way more than they anticipated.

“I don’t think we fully appreciated how impactful he was in the ways you just cannot measure,” president of baseball operations Erik Neander said after Eflin’s first season with Tampa Bay. “You knew you were getting a good person, a good human, a good teammate. But we didn’t appreciate that he was levels above in all of those respects. … Obviously couldn’t have been more pleased with what we got out of him.”

Eflin said his leadership role was “quite unexpected, to be honest,” and not something he necessarily sought out as he joined the team. He had spent nearly a decade in one organization before signing with the Rays. It was a strange Spring Training split between multiple sites. And Eflin’s wife, Lauren, was expecting twins who were born in late March. It was hard enough just getting acclimated.

But he had put in the time over parts of seven big league seasons with the Phillies, learning on his own and from the veterans who came through that clubhouse, and found he had plenty to share with the younger Rays who asked him for advice.

For as much dependability and stability as he brought on the mound for a team that endured more than its fair share of injuries, turnover and turmoil, Eflin proved to be the same steady presence off the field.

“Really appreciative of everything he did on the field and, just as much, everything he did in the clubhouse,” manager Kevin Cash said. “There were a lot of things he did, team building-wise, to bring everyone together.”

Eflin’s work on the mound was critical as the Rays started the season without starter Tyler Glasnow and finished it without Shane McClanahan, Jeffrey Springs or Drew Rasmussen. By the end of the season, he was the only member of the Opening Day rotation on the active roster.

And he figures to be even more important in Year 2, as the 29-year-old right-hander is projected to be Tampa Bay’s top starter this season.

Eflin got things going in the Rays’ 12-9 loss to the Braves at Charlotte Sports Park on Thursday afternoon, giving up four runs on four hits and a walk while striking out three over 1 2/3 innings. He threw 38 pitches, including 25 strikes, but more importantly, he felt sharp as he worked on pounding the corners with his six-pitch arsenal.

“It honestly felt a lot better than I thought it was,” Eflin said. “It's nice to go out there the first outing and feel sharp and locate pitches and stuff. So, for me, it felt like a lot better line that what it was.”

Of course, Spring Training pitching lines are hardly a concern for Eflin at this point. He proved what he’s capable of last year, as the Rays went 23-8 in his starts while he posted a 1.02 WHIP ranked second in the AL behind only Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole.

Eflin credited Tampa Bay’s coaching staff, defense and high-scoring offense for their role in his success, but the most important numbers were two that he had the most control over -- and the ones he wants to improve upon this season.

• Starts: 31

• Innings pitched: 177 2/3

“That was the most refreshing thing in my life, going out there and really just focusing on pitching and not worrying about pitching through pain or anything like that,” Eflin said. “It was awesome, and I'm looking forward to getting 33-plus starts this year.

“Everything else is going to kind of fall as it is. I'm not a result-oriented guy. I just want to go out there and post as many innings as I can, as consistently as I can, and make sure I don't miss any starts."