Sonnanstine made his first major league start against the Toronto Blue Jays, receiving a no-decision.

Sonnanstine demonstrated strikeout potential in 2007 when, through seven innings of work against the Marlins, he struck out ten batters, including a franchise-record seven in a row, while allowing two runs on seven hits.

In another career night, on April 19, 2008, Sonnanstine pitched a complete game shutout against the Chicago White Sox.

On May 17, 2009, in a game against the Cleveland Indians, Sonnanstine was included in the starting lineup due to a mistake when Rays manager Joe Maddon entered the wrong lineup card, which had both Evan Longoria and Ben Zobrist playing third base, omitting the DH spot.

[1] He was non-tendered and became a free agent on December 12, 2011 Sonnastine's 2011 book with Tucker Elliot Tampa Bay Rays IQ: The Ultimate Test of True Fandom, published by Black Mesa books contains ten chapters of Rays history and offers up 200 trivia questions.