The Tampa Bay Rays suffered a huge blow this week when it was revealed that their ace, Shane McClanahan, will undergo Tommy John surgery to repair ligament damage in his left (pitching) elbow.
McClanahan was having another brilliant season, with a 3.29 ERA in 115 innings pitched.
That’s very close to his career 3.02 mark.
He recently hit the injured list, though, and the Rays’ worst fears came true.
McClanahan will not only miss the remainder of the 2023 campaign: he will be sidelined for the entire 2024 season as well, according to MLB insider Bob Nightengale.
Tampa Bay #Rays ace Shane McClanahan not only will miss all of this season, but also the entire 2024 season. He will undergo Tommy John surgery next week, the Rays announce.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 15, 2023
The Rays are known for producing top-end pitching talent like no other team in MLB, but losing your best hurler for such a long period of time is painful and disappointing.
Fans went to Twitter to express their frustration.
Rays can't catch a break man
— Aaron Derrick (@Ad51603) August 15, 2023
Well that’s depressing ?
— Savannah Raihana (@SportySav_87) August 15, 2023
Can't have any nice things.
— ChrisNoLongerInStPete (@chrisinstpete) August 15, 2023
This comes at a time during which Wander Franco, the Rays’ best position player, is being investigated by MLB for allegedly having a relationship with a minor.
Tampa, therefore, will be without their best pitcher and hitter for the foreseeable future.
The amount of Rays pitchers who deal with elbow ligament injuries is actually jaw-dropping.
Perhaps it’s worth studying the correlation between the organization’s pitching philosophy and the seemingly never-ending elbow injuries.
For now, the Rays will have to get creative and find an internal replacement for McClanahan, with the trade market already closed.
NEXT: Rays Get More Tough News On Shane McClanahan
