Surgical procedure ends Shane McClanahan's chances of returning this season

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Aug 11, 2025

Published in Baseball

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WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Shane McClanahan will try again next year.

The Rays’ two-time All Star pitcher underwent a procedure Monday to address the nerve issue that derailed his planned return to the mound this season.

Manager Kevin Cash said the procedure is a step toward trying to solve the problem.

“(The doctor) is not sitting there saying ‘he’s fixed.’ That’s not the case. It’s ‘this is one step, and we’ll see how this goes.’ And hopefully we get good results,” Cash said. “And if we don’t, then let doctors decide what else is needed, if anything.”

McClanahan has not pitched in the majors in more than two years, undergoing Tommy John elbow surgery on Aug. 21, 2023 and missing all of 2024 for recovery and rehab.

He pitched well this spring, earning the opening day start, but he left his final spring outing March 22 with what was diagnosed as a nerve issue in his left triceps.

He has paused his rehab several times over the last few months for different reasons, most recently for what was said to be biceps tendinitis.

Baseball operations president Erik Neander said Friday on WDAE radio that McClanahan has not been able to make any substantial progress.

“Just lingering symptoms. Nothing awful, but we’re not getting over the hump ...” Neander said during his weekly radio segment.

“No huge setbacks, but also no huge progress or breakthroughs. The clock’s obviously ticking at this point as we sit here today. ... We’re not getting the progress that we or certainly he is hoping for. Really unfortunate. But we’ve got to do what’s best for him and take care of him and try to stay at it the best we can.”