Rays' Rasmussen to undergo elbow surgery, out until mid-2024

The Tampa Bay Rays won't be getting Drew Rasmussen back after all, as the right-hander will undergo season-ending surgery to install an internal brace in his elbow, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

Rasmussen has been on the 60-day injured list since suffering a flexor strain in early May. Instead of returning next month, he'll now be sidelined until the middle of 2024.

It's the third time that Rasmussen has needed elbow surgery during his career, having previously undergone Tommy John surgery to repair a torn ligament twice.

Manager Kevin Cash said that Dr. Keith Meister, a noted orthopaedic surgeon in Texas, recommended the brace procedure. Dr. Meister "just felt like this was probably the best course of action to get him back on the field as quick as possible, and as healthy as possible," Cash explained, per Topkin.

"Ras is frustrated," Cash added, according to The Associated Press. "We were all kind of hopeful that maybe he'd be pitching for us at some point this season, but it's not going to happen."

The surgery ends what was shaping up to be a breakout campaign for the 27-year-old. Rasmussen posted a career-best 2.62 ERA and 2.57 FIP, along with a 9.5 K/9 rate while allowing just two home runs over eight starts this year. In what ended up being his final start of the season on May 11, the Puyallup, Washington, native tossed seven shutout innings while allowing only two hits at Yankee Stadium.

Less than 24 hours after his gem in New York, the Rays placed Rasmussen on the IL having discovered his flexor tendon injury.

Tampa Bay originally acquired Rasmussen from the Milwaukee Brewers in 2021 as part of a package for shortstop Willy Adames.

The AL-best Rays are limping into the break, entering Saturday's game having lost six straight contests and seven of their last 10. Seven of their pitchers, including Rasmussen, ace Shane McClanahan, and left-hander Jeffrey Springs, are currently on the IL. On Friday, oft-injured starter Tyler Glasnow left Friday's game with a trainer due to a cramping issue.