Thursday was supposed to be a festive day for the Tampa Bay Rays, as their 9-3 victory over the Red Sox moved them to 13-0. That is tied for the best start in MLB history, but a dark cloud hangs over the victory. Starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs, who was off to a Cy Young-caliber start to the season, was pulled from the game in the fourth inning after two pitches. Friday, word came down that he's expected to miss at least two months. It might even be a lot longer.
The issue for Springs appeared to happen on this pitch:
Springs then pulled himself from the game after a warm-up with manager Kevin Cash and athletic trainers watching. He shook his hand and looked down at it a few times in frustration, appearing to know that something is wrong. He might've even glanced at his forearm/elbow area in the video above.
A few innings later, the Rays broadcast said the diagnosis is left ulnar neuritis. According to the Florida Orthopaedic Institute, that typically presents with numbness or weakness in the hand. The ulnar nerve is, of course, in the elbow.
After the game, Rays manager Kevin Cash told reporters (via Marc Topkin) that Springs will have imaging done and see a doctor Friday, but the hope is this was just irritation. Still, Cash pointed out a stint on the injured list for Springs is likely, regardless of what they find.
Friday, the news got worse. The issue is more than just a nerve and Springs is expected to miss two months, via Topkin. It's possible that surgery will be needed, in which case Springs would miss "much longer" than the two months, too. Reading between the lines, it sounds like this injury will cost Springs anywhere from two months to the rest of the 2023 season.
Springs, 30, had a breakout season with the Rays in 2022, going 9-5 with a 2.46 ERA (146 ERA+), 1.07 WHIP and 144 strikeouts against 31 walks in 135 1/3 innings. This offseason, he was rewarded for his efforts with a four-year extension. Through two starts this season, Springs was 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA, 0.54 WHIP and 19 strikeouts against four walks in 13 innings. He had allowed one run on one hit (a solo homer by Rob Refsnyder) with five strikeouts and no walks in his three innings before injury Thursday.
The Rays do have rotation depth, though it will be stretched thin here in the short term. Shane McClanahan and Drew Rasmussen are the remaining fixtures while Josh Fleming can start or piggyback an opener. Top prospect Taj Bradley started and got the win on Wednesday, so he could be summoned right back from the minors to grab a rotation spot. Zach Eflin is on the injured list right now, but he isn't expected to miss a lot of time. Tyler Glasnow is recovering from a spring training oblique injury and should be back sometime in May.
The good news for the Rays here is they've set themselves up to absorb a cold stretch thanks to the historic 13-0 start.
