Rays ace McClanahan will have TJ surgery, likely out through 2024
Tampa Bay Rays ace Shane McClanahan will undergo Tommy John surgery Monday that will likely force him to miss the entire 2024 campaign, the team announced Tuesday, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.
McClanahan last pitched on Aug. 2 but left his start early against the New York Yankees because his forearm tightened up.
The All-Star left-hander is going to have the procedure to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow for a second time. He also had Tommy John in 2016 while pitching at the University of South Florida.
McClanahan posted an 11-2 record with a 3.29 ERA and 121 strikeouts across 115 innings prior to the injury. The 26-year-old was considered one of the favorites to win the American League Cy Young Award.
The Rays have also lost starting pitchers Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen, and Shane Baz to major elbow injuries.