Tampa Bay Rays Lefty Has "Significant" Tear in Elbow, Out For Season

Tampa Bay Rays lefty Jeffrey Springs was out to a terrific start for the 17-3 Rays but will miss the rest of the season after needing to undergo Tommy John surgery. He left a start on April 13th against the Boston Red Sox and now has a "significant" tear in his elbow. Originally, he was diagnosed with ulnar neuritis.

The Tampa Bay Rays are out to a league-best 17-3 record after hitting a walk-off home run against the Chicago White Sox on Friday night, but the news isn't all good.

Left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs, one of the key cogs in the Rays rotation, left a start on April 13th against the Red Sox with an injury, and he's now set to miss the rest of the season and will need Tommy John surgery. Originally, he was diagnosed with ulnar neuritis.

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets out: "#Rays Springs said he's still processing the fact that he has to have Tommy John surgery and his season is over, called it "devastating," said the MRI showed a "significant" tear."

#Rays Springs said he’s still processing the fact that he has to have Tommy John surgery and his season is over, called it “devastating,” said the MRI showed “a significant” tear

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) April 22, 2023

After the injury happened, Springs spoke to the media, you can hear what he had to say here.

Springs was excellent this season for Tampa Bay before the injury. He went 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA in 16 innings. 

For his career, he's 21-10 in 138 career games, posting a 3.40 ERA. He made his major league debut in 2018 with the Texas Rangers and spent part of 2020 with the Boston Red Sox before going to Tampa for the last three years.

Springs isn't the only injury for the first-place Rays, who have also dealt with not having Tyler Glasnow all season. Zach Eflin was on the injured list as well but appears set to come back on Sunday against the White Sox.

The Rays and White Sox are playing on a Saturday at 4:05 p.m. ET.

Follow Fastball on FanNation in social media

Continue to follow our Fastball on FanNation coverage on social media by LIKING us on Facebook and by following us on Twitter @FastballFN.

You can also subscribe to "The Payoff Pitch" podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.