After what was a brilliant start to the 2023 season, Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Jeffrey Springs will see it come to an end early.
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times was the first to report that Springs, who came out of his last start April 19 with an elbow injury, is now expected to undergo Tommy John surgery, which would end his 2023 season, and sideline him until the middle of 2024.
Updated breaking #Rays news: Springs expected to have Tommy John surgery, will be sidelined into 2024 season https://t.co/JTL2zkaRDP
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) April 18, 2023
Springs was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, with right-hander Taj Bradley being recalled from Triple-A Durham to take his spot in the rotation.
The 30-year old, who signed a four-year contract with the Rays during the offseason, will finish the season 2-0 with a 0.56 earned run average, having allowed just a single run in 16 innings in his three starts.
Steve Carney is the founder and publisher of St. Pete Nine. One of the people most associated with baseball coverage in Tampa Bay, he spent 13 seasons covering the Rays for flagship radio station WDAE, first as producer of Rays Radio broadcasts, then as beat reporter beginning in 2011. He likes new analytics and aged bourbon, and is the owner of one of the ugliest knuckleballs ever witnessed by baseball scouts.
