This one hurts, and not just for two-time All-Star Shane McClanahan’s arm. Tampa Bay Rays fans woke up today to the kind of news you’d rather roll over and sleep through: their ace left-hander is officially done for the year. Again.
From Cy Young Contender to Sideline Fixture
Manager Kevin Cash dropped the bombshell to reporters: McClanahan went under the knife Monday to fix a lingering nerve issue in his pitching arm. And yes, “nerve issue” is exactly the sort of phrase that makes baseball fans break into a cold sweat. This isn’t a minor tweak or a precautionary shutdown — this is season over, zip it up, put it in the history books, and we’re not even halfway through August.
Remember, this guy isn’t just any pitcher. McClanahan is a two-time All-Star, a former first-round pick, and a bona fide ace who went 12-8 with a 2.54 ERA in 2022, landing sixth in the Cy Young voting. In 2023, he followed that up with an 11-2 record and a 3.29 ERA — numbers that make opposing hitters sleep with the lights on. But here’s the heartbreak: we haven’t seen him pitch since July 2023.
Injuries Stack Up in Brutal Sequence for All-Star
Tommy John surgery in August 2023 wiped out his entire 2024 season. Rays fans circled Opening Day 2025 on their calendars for his grand return… and then spring training happened. Cue the triceps injury. That sidelined him for months, and now, the nerve surgery twist ending no one wanted.
The Rays still have him under team control until after 2027, so there’s time for a comeback story. But let’s be honest: nerve damage is the sort of thing you whisper about in dugouts. It’s unpredictable, it’s career-altering, and it’s not something you rehab with a couple of bullpen sessions.
A Season That Can’t Catch a Break
As for the Rays, sitting at 57-62, this feels like the latest chapter in a season of pitching misery. If baseball is a game of attrition, Tampa Bay’s pitching staff has been stuck in the attrition fast lane all year. And McClanahan? He’s got to reset the clock, aim for 2026, and hope his arm — and the baseball gods — finally give him a break.
