Rays Closer Headed For Surgery

The Tampa Bay Rays have once again lost a key component of their bullpen. According to manager Kevin Cash, Andrew Kittredge is "most likely" going under the knife.

#Rays Cash said Kittredge is most likely headed for surgery to have a loose body removed from his elbow, will be out at least a month

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) June 9, 2022

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times says that Kittredge will have to have a loose body removed from his elbow, and will be out at least until the All-Star Break. 

The Rays' closer joins an ever-expanding list of Tampa relievers on the injured list, that now includes, in addition to Kittredge,  J.P. Feyereisen, Pete Fairbanks, Nick Anderson, JT Chargois and Chris Mazza. The latter four have missed most or all of the season.

Kittredge earned an All-Star nod in 2021 for his lights-out season, which included a 1.88 ERA, 0.98 WHIP,  and a 77:15 strikeouts-to-walks ratio in 71.2 innings. 

He came into the 2022 season as the closer (as much as the Rays can have an actual closer vs. a committee), but has been limited to just 17 appearances, pitching in only two games since May 16 due to the troublesome elbow.

He has a 3.15 ERA, 5 saves, and a 14:2 K:BB ratio.

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