Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan was days away from an Opening Day start in Tampa. But then, one pitch on Saturday changed everything for McClanahan. He learned over the weekend that he’ll miss multiple weeks due to nerve irritation in his left triceps. While the setback means he’ll begin the season on the injured list, by Monday, McClanahan was able to take a deep breath and put things in perspective.
“We got really lucky,” he said, in his first public interview since the injury.
McClanahan called the injury a “freak thing” and emphasized that his MRI results showed no structural damage, only nerve irritation that needs time to calm down. While frustrated about missing time, he stressed that the situation could have been much worse and reassured that he’s eager to return.
Shane McClanahan’s Injury: No Structural Damage, But Time Needed
McClanahan missed all of 2024 while recovering from his second Tommy John surgery. But he’d had close to a perfect spring, experiencing no setbacks and allowing no runs in three Grapefruit League starts. However, a third-inning pitch to Boston Red Sox Marcelo Mayer on Saturday forced McClanahan off the mound abruptly, in obvious pain.
“I’ve never had a nerve issue before,” McClanahan said. “I’m really glad I’ve never had a nerve issue in my life before. It grabbed and then just kind of radiated down. Didn’t feel great.
“And immediately, as I was walking off the mound toward (manager Kevin) Cash, the first thing I said was: ‘It’s not the elbow,’ just to kind of give him that reassurance. (But) I didn’t know what it was.”
Rays Adjust Rotation Amid McClanhan’s Absence
The Rays have not set a timeline for Shane McClanahan’s return, leaving his recovery open-ended. Tampa Bay’s decision to retain Zack Littell despite offseason and spring trade interest is now proving valuable, as Littell will move into the back of the rotation to help fill the void. With McClanahan sidelined, former Dodgers right-hander Ryan Pepiot will start the Rays’ Opening Day game against the Colorado Rockies on Friday at George M. Steinbrenner Field, the Yankees’ spring training home. Behind Pepiot, the rotation includes Drew Rasmussen, Taj Bradley, Littell, and Shane Baz.
After three major league seasons, McClanahan has a record of 33-16 with a 3.02 ERA in 74 games. The two-time All-Star has thrown 404 2/3 innings with 456 strikeouts.
Main Photo: © Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images
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