Rays LHP Shane McClanahan to have Tommy John surgery

Rays left-hander Shane McClanahan will undergo Tommy John surgery on Monday, Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said on Tuesday.

McClanahan is expected to miss the entire 2024 season.

Dr. Keith Meister, an orthopedic surgeon at TMI Sports Medicine in Arlington, Texas, evaluated McClanahan on Tuesday. The Rays then determined Tommy John surgery was the best option for the southpaw.

After going 11-1 with a 2.53 ERA through his first 17 starts this season, McClanahan was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 1 because of mid-back tightness. He returned on July 17 to face the Texas Rangers before making three more starts, most recently an Aug. 2 outing against the New York Yankees.

McClanahan experienced left forearm tightness during the final inning of his outing against New York and was put back on the 15-day IL the next day. He was then evaluated by two doctors, and Cash stated that it was "highly unlikely" that McClanahan would return in 2023.

McClanahan was transferred to the 60-day IL on Saturday and will now prepare for his second Tommy John surgery. He also underwent the procedure prior to his freshman season at the University of South Florida, returning to the Bulls in 2017.

"Tough loss, no doubt," Cash said.

McClanahan, 26, went 11-2 with a 3.29 ERA in 21 starts this season. He selected as an All-Star for the second year in a row.

In three major league seasons, all with Tampa Bay, McClanahan has gone 33-16 with a 3.02 ERA in 74 starts. He has 456 strikeouts in 404 2/3 innings.