Rays P Tyler Glasnow out 6-8 weeks due to oblique injury after losing most of 2022 to Tommy John surgery
Tyler Glasnow's injury woes aren't ending in 2023.
The Tampa Bay Rays pitcher will miss six to eight weeks after an MRI revealed a Grade 2 left oblique strain, the team announced Tuesday.
Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Glasnow sustained the injury while throwing live batting practice Monday, when he ended the session after about six pitches due to discomfort. Rays manager Kevin Cash confirmed to reporters that the right-hander will be out when the team opens its season March 30.
Cash reportedly noted that the injury might not be a total loss, as the Rays wanted to limit Glasnow's innings workload after his return last year from Tommy John surgery:
“It gives us better workload management for him so he’s not yelling at me every time I take him out in the fifth inning,” Cash said.
When on the mound, Glasnow has been one of the most effective pitchers in MLB, posting a 2.75 ERA with a 0.973 WHIP and 300 strikeouts in 212 1/3 innings pitched the past four seasons. The rub, of course, is that innings total.
Glasnow missed most of the 2019 season due to a right forearm strain, then needed Tommy John surgery in June 2021, wiping out the rest of that year and nearly all of 2022. Glasnow returned in time to make one regular-season start and one postseason start last year, allowing one earned run while striking out 15 in 11 2/3 innings.
The Rays are entering this year hoping to build on an 86-76 season that saw them finish third in the AL East and earn a wild-card playoff berth. The prospect of more innings from Glasnow was a major reason for optimism, but instead the Rays will have to wait at least a few weeks to really get him going.
