Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Tyler Glasnow is scheduled to rejoin the rotation Wednesday night at Cleveland after missing nearly 14 months because of Tommy John surgery.
The Rays’ Opening Day starter last year hasn’t pitched this season after having the procedure Aug. 4, 2021.
“I think we’re pretty confident he’ll be starting for us Wednesday,” Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash said before Sunday’s 7-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. “This is the first time he’s thrown pain-free in quite some time, so he’s encouraged by it.”
The 6-foot-8 right-hander went 5-2 with a 2.66 ERA in 14 starts last year and is a key addition as the Rays near a wild-card spot.
“Compared to the past, like, three years, it feels way better as far as post-day and the week leading into starts and stuff,” Glasnow said. “It’s good to have a UCL, you know.”
Cash said Glasnow will throw around 45 pitches in his initial outing, which should allow him to go two or three innings.
“Two innings of Glasnow is still a huge plus for our team,” Cash said. “Like to get three innings. If we do, great. If we don’t, that’s fine too.”
Glasnow allowed one run, one hit and four walks and had 14 strikeouts over seven innings in four starts with Triple-A Durham.
“I’m really excited,” Glasnow said. “I’m approaching it like normal, staying on routine. Feels normal.”
Glasnow signed a two-year, $30.35 million contract last month that will delay the start of his free agency by one year. He is making $5.1 million this year and will get $5.35 million next season and $25 million in 2024, which is the first year he would have been eligible for free agency.
The future is less certain for Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier.
The 32-year-old Kiermaier, in the final season of a six-year, $53.5 million contract, had season-ending left hip surgery nearly two months ago. Tampa Bay has a $13 million option for 2023, which they will likely decline in favor of a $2.5 million buyout.
Kiermaier got a video tribute during Saturday night’s game against the Blue Jays but said he didn’t think the acknowledgement felt like a goodbye.
“It was more of an appreciation to me,” Kiermaier said before the Rays’ regular-season home finale Sunday. “Being realistic, I don’t know if that was my final Saturday game for me here in the regular season. A lot of unknowns. I don’t know if I will be putting on this uniform and taking that field again or if I’ll be coming into this building on the other side, which is such a weird thought.”
Kiermaier said he and Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander plan to talk in the offseason.
“He mentioned, ‘Hey, get healthy and we’ll revisit talks,'” Kiermaier said. “Hopefully the Rays, other teams check in. As a player, you just want to feel wanted. For me, I know I can help a team win. Give me a healthy body, and I’m going to work this offseason to get my speed back, my explosiveness.”
“What I like with all this, it’s all up to me,” Kiermaier added. “It’s up to me to control my own destiny. I’m locked in. I’m focused. I’ve got to make it happen.”
A three-time American League Gold Glove winner, Kiermaier hit .228 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs in 63 games this season.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.