Tampa Bay Rays: Tyler Glasnow to undergo Tommy John Surgery

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Tyler Glasnow is expected to undergo Tommy John surgery later this week, ending his season prematurely.

On Saturday, ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Glasnow would likely need an elbow procedure. However, there is a small chance that he could return in the 2022 season should they find a different way for rehab, but Glasnow will likely not pitch again until 2023, which would be the last season before he becomes a free agent. Glasnow’s season ends with 124 strikeouts in 14 starts.

Tampa Bay Rays dealt tough blow with Tyler Glasnow news

This news is hard to bear for Tampa Bay fans, who are currently battling the Boston Red Sox for the division lead and the top wild card slot in the American League. Also, the New York Yankees, despite their struggles, remain a threat of their own after acquiring Anthony Rizzo from the Chicago Cubs. Also, Glasnow was a potential Cy Young award candidate.

Also, this brings up the question of why the Rays didn’t address this earlier? Glasnow and the organization may have wanted to rehab behind it instead of having surgery, but his injury, diagnosed as a partially torn UCL, often leads to having Tommy John Surgery.

Had this been found out earlier and the choice of surgery was confirmed, Glasnow would have been in the recovery process a lot sooner, and his return would have sped up. Instead, the Rays will have to move on without one of their better pitchers and potentially have seen him pitch for the last time in a Tampa Bay uniform unless he resigns after the 2023 season.

Also, it bears mentioning that the Rays don’t have Blake Snell anymore, as he departed for the San Diego Padres and Charlie Morton, who returned to Houston in the offseason. In other words, someone else is going to have to step up.

Tyler Glasnow will have Tommy John Surgery, and best wishes to him on a speedy and healthy recovery.

The Pittsburgh Pirates drafted Glasnow in 2011. Glasnow was then traded to the Tampa Bay Rays in 2018 as part of a deal for Chris Archer. Since coming to Tampa Bay, he not only thrived but grew his hair out in the process.

He recorded his best season in 2019, where he recorded a 1.78 ERA and won six of seven starts. Glasnow would register 76 strikeouts as Tampa Bay advanced to the Divisional Series before losing to the Houston Astros in five games.

In 2020, Glasnow got his chance to play in the World Series and even started game 1. However, he was credited with a loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers after giving up six earned runs. The Tampa Bay Rays would lose the series in six games, headlined by a controversial decision by manager Kevin Cash to pull Snell in the closeout game.

Last season, Glasnow started 11 games and was credited with 5 wins and one loss, registering a 4.08 ERA and 91 strikeouts.

Best wishes to Tyler Glasnow on a speedy recovery, and we hope to see him back on the mound throwing 100 MPH.