Tampa Bay Rays starter Ryan Pepiot is scheduled to undergo season-ending surgery on his right hip on May 13. Manager Kevin Cash announced the news on Friday, confirming the right-hander will miss the rest of the year. Pepiot has been sidelined since the end of Spring Training due to hip inflammation.
The Rays will be without Ryan Pepiot for the remainder of the season, as manager Kevin Cash revealed before a series opener against the San Francisco Giants at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg. Dr. Thomas Byrd is set to perform the procedure in Nashville, Tennessee, with Pepiot expected to recover in time for Spring Training next year. Pepiot was placed on the 15-day injured list on March 25 and transferred to the 60-day IL on April 14 after dealing with right hip inflammation that began at the end of Spring Training. He had attempted to pitch through the issue, but recent throwing sessions highlighted ongoing instability in his hip despite MRIs and X-rays last week. “It’s unfortunate,” Cash said. “We were hoping he was going to be available at some point. It just didn’t look like it was going to turn in the right direction.” Pepiot himself expressed frustration in late April. “I thought it was a whole lot of nothing. I think we all did, and it's just kind of not bounced back,” he said on April 21. “It's a weird one... I'm trying to do what I know how to do.” With Pepiot and fellow pitcher Joe Boyle sidelined—Boyle out since April 10 with an elbow strain—the Rays have turned to Griffin Jax to fill the rotation spot. Jax, recently transitioned from the bullpen, is slated to start against the Giants on Saturday, potentially throwing three innings or about 40 pitches as he builds workload. Jax, who previously started for the Minnesota Twins, praised the Rays' coaching staff, including Kyle Snyder. “This is an organization that's had some success doing this in the past,” Jax said.
