Rays reliever J.P. Feyereisen underwent surgery to repair the rotator cuff and labrum in his shoulder yesterday, tweets Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. He’ll be shut down from throwing for at least four months, meaning he’s certain to begin the 2023 campaign on the injured list.
Shoulder issues have plagued Feyereisen dating back to the early summer. He landed on the IL in early June with what was initially diagnosed as an impingement, then battled renewed discomfort while attempting to rehab in early September. He was shut down for the 2022 season, and that unfortunately didn’t keep him from needing to go under the knife.
With a four-month shutdown coming out of surgery, Feyereisen will not have picked up a ball by the time the regular season gets underway. Even in the most optimistic scenario, he’ll need weeks from that point forward to gradually build back strength and work his way into game shape before he can head out on a minor league rehab assignment. He’s likely to miss multiple months, with Topkin suggesting the injury could keep him out of action until after the All-Star Break.
It’s a tough blow to the Rays’ bullpen, as Feyereisen has quietly been a dominant middle-innings arm for skipper Kevin Cash. Acquired from the Brewers alongside Drew Rasmussen in the 2021 blockbuster that landed Willy Adames in Milwaukee, the right-hander has provided 61 innings of 1.48 ERA ball in a Tampa Bay uniform. He didn’t allow a single earned run in 22 appearances totaling 24 1/3 frames this past season, and while he surely wouldn’t have maintained that pace over a full season, he posted excellent underlying marks. Feyereisen struck out 29.1% of opponents while walking a meager 5.8% of batters faced, generating swinging strikes on a massive 16.4% of his total pitches.
Feyereisen turns 30 in February. He has over two years of major league service time, and he won’t reach arbitration until the end of next season. He’ll collect service time and a salary around the MLB minimum while rehabbing. Feyereisen will remain on the Rays’ 40-man roster throughout the winter, but they can clear a spot at the start of Spring Training by placing him on the 60-day IL.
Credit : Source link
