The Rays bought excellent news about left-hander Shane McClanahan a day after he left his closing spring coaching begin with damage, although not adequate to maintain him on rotation for Opening Day. Supervisor Kevin Money mentioned Sunday that imaging confirmed that McClanahan’s damage is an infected nerve in his left triceps. He’ll begin the season on the injured checklist, but it surely would not sound like a long-term concern. 

“Actually excellent news on Mac,” mentioned supervisor Kevin Money (through the Tampa Bay Occasions). “Principally, it was extra nerve-related. Calm the nerve down after which see how he progresses, get a ball again in his hand. Most likely the most effective information we might have heard.”

Money known as the information “very lucky” regardless of not having a timeline but.

Ryan Pepiot will as an alternative begin on Opening Day with McClanahan on the shelf, however the backside line is Sunday introduced encouraging information. 

McClanahan — who missed the entire 2024 season after Tommy John surgical procedure — got here off the mound Saturday in ache and signaled to the dugout instantly after a pitch. Have a look:

Opening Day was set to be 27-year-old McClanahan’s first MLB begin since Aug. 2, 2023 after present process Tommy John surgical procedure. Previous to his elbow damage in 2023, he was a two-time All-Star. In 2023, he was 11-2 with a 3.29 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 121 strikeouts in 115 innings. In his profession, he is 33-16 with a 3.02 ERA (130 ERA+). To date this spring, he is seemed like his previous self and the most effective estimate for this coming season was that he’d throw like a No. 1 starter once more. 

The Rays completed 80-82 final season, ending in fourth place within the AL East. It was their worst season since 2017.