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May 14: Reinstated INF Jonathan Aranda (fractured right ring finger) from the 10-day IL; optioned INF Austin Shenton to Triple-A Durham
Despite Aranda's initial struggles in the Majors, the Rays had high hopes for the left-handed-hitting infielder entering the year and were pleased by his performance early in Spring Training. But his potential big league breakthrough was delayed when he fractured his right ring finger while fielding a ground ball during a workout on March 19, which led to surgery to insert a pin into the finger on March 21.

Aranda had the pins removed from his finger on April 15. After an 0-for-19 start to his rehab assignment with Durham, Aranda has gone 9-for-27 with one homer, one double and seven walks in his last seven games before joining the Rays on Tuesday at Fenway Park. He was not in the lineup on his first day back, but he is expected to play frequently against right-handed pitchers. Most of his work should come as the DH and at first base, but he can also play second.

Aranda’s injury allowed Shenton to crack the Opening Day roster. The rookie infielder had a few clutch at-bats and milestone moments but played relatively infrequently, slashing .189/.318/.378 in 44 plate appearances over 17 games. Manager Kevin Cash said Shenton is "a guy that we really think highly of when he's at the plate," but it's important for his development that he get more regular playing time in the Minors.

May 14: RHP Pete Fairbanks (cut on finger) expected to be available
Fairbanks returned Saturday from a stay on the 15-day IL due to a nerve-related issue, but manager Kevin Cash elected to use right-hander Jason Adam in a save situation in the ninth inning of the Rays' 5-3 win over the Red Sox on Monday night at Fenway Park. Adam was up to the task, striking out three to record his third save.

Cash explained after the game that Fairbanks had a "small cut" on his right index finger, which made him unavailable to handle the high-leverage situation. Cash said Fairbanks would be good to go for Tuesday night's game against the Red Sox.

May 14: Minor League LHP Brendan McKay (left elbow) on 60-day IL
McKay, a former top prospect who has been set back by a series of arm injuries since debuting for the Rays in 2019, was diagnosed with a flexor/pronator strain and an accompanying UCL sprain after having an MRI reviewed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache. Doctors recommended five to six weeks of rehab, with no throwing, before he builds back up to full activity. The Rays' expectation is that McKay will be back to full baseball activity in three months.

McKay, who began the season with Double-A Montgomery, reported left elbow discomfort on May 3 after being promoted to Triple-A Durham. He told the club the issue began after his April 30 outing with Montgomery. He was placed on the Minor League 60-day IL on Saturday.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

2B Brandon Lowe (right oblique strain)
Expected return: Possibly late May
Lowe continued his rehabilitation assignment with Triple-A Durham on May 12, going 1-for-5 with a three-run homer (tracked by Statcast at a projected 423 feet, with an exit velocity of 105 mph) while playing the whole game at second base. But Lowe, who was pulled from his rehab appearance on May 10 as a precautionary move, reported that he was "still feeling a little bit" of discomfort, manager Kevin Cash said. He went home to Nashville, Tenn., on May 13 and was seen on May 14 by Dr. Ryan Snowden, a spine surgeon who has worked with Lowe previously.

Cash said the visit brought "good news," as Lowe's imaging showed he is healing and heading in the right direction. It's just an issue of how much discomfort he can tolerate to play. Lowe will return to St. Petersburg for what the Rays hope to be a short stay, then resume swinging and return to rehab games.

Lowe was pulled early from the Rays’ April 3 game against the Rangers due to left side tightness and underwent a precautionary MRI. But that scan revealed no issues, and Lowe returned to the field for all three of Tampa Bay’s games at Coors Field. He didn’t start April 8-9 against the Angels, which was expected against a pair of left-handed pitchers. Lowe was preparing for a possible pinch-hit appearance on April 9, but he instead stayed on the bench after something flared up in his right oblique. An MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain, and he was placed on the injured list on April 12, retroactive to April 9. (Last updated: May 14)

RHP Chris Devenski (right knee tendinitis)
Expected return: Likely late May
Devenski is throwing pain-free bullpen sessions and will soon face hitters in live batting practice at the spring complex in Port Charlotte, Fla. He was placed on the injured list on April 29, retroactive to April 26, after aggravating a lingering knee injury while playing catch in Chicago during the Rays' series against the White Sox. The right-hander said he was optimistic he won't miss much time. An MRI on April 30 revealed what manager Kevin Cash called "pretty strong patella tendinitis." (Last updated: May 14)

LHP Colin Poche (mid-back tightness)
Expected return: TBD
Poche went on the injured list on April 26, retroactive to April 24, due to a mid-back issue that had been preventing him from feeling fully comfortable on the mound. The left-hander received an injection in his back, which came before a few days of rest, then needed a second cortisone-type shot in early May. He hopes to resume throwing soon. (Last updated: May 13)

RHP Ryan Pepiot (lower left leg contusion)
Expected return: Late May
Pepiot, who was placed on the 15-day injured list after being struck by a line drive against the Mets on May 5, said he felt good after throwing a bullpen session off the mound on May 12.

"We’re finally getting off the slope, just trying to feel it out because it’s different than flat ground," Pepiot said. "It was more to see how the ball was coming out and how I was landing on the front side of my leg."

Pepiot, who said he expects to spend "minimal time" on the IL, will make the road trip to Boston and Toronto that begins May 13. Rays manager Kevin Cash said Pepiot will throw another bullpen session or simulated game on the road "to simulate some sort of up-down." If Pepiot passes that test, he could return to the rotation. (Last updated: May 12)

RHP Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Possibly May
Baz began his rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on May 4. He allowed three runs on three hits and one walk with no strikeouts over three innings against Gwinnett. Twenty-two of Baz's 39 pitches went for strikes. He threw 25 four-seam fastballs and topped out at 97.1 mph. He struggled through a brief second start on May 10, recording only five outs while allowing three runs on five walks and one hit.

Baz missed the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Sept. 28, 2022. But the young right-hander will be limited this season, as he has never carried a significant workload and did not pitch at all last season. He dealt with two minor oblique setbacks during his comeback, with the first coming when he picked up a weight in the weight room in early March. He essentially began his buildup after Spring Training ended. He was placed on the 15-day IL on March 25. (Last updated: May 10)

RHP Jacob Waguespack (right rotator cuff inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Waguespack sustained a right shoulder injury during his last outing for Triple-A Durham that isn't expected to require a significant stint on the shelf. Rather than leave Waguespack on the Minor League injured list, the Rays recalled him and put him on the 15-day IL on May 6. They made the move mostly to guard against a setback; if Waguespack were to suffer a setback that would require a transfer to the 60-day IL, thus clearing a spot on the 40-man roster, his time on the Minor League IL would not count toward that stint. This way, if Waguespack is eventually placed on the 60-day IL, he will be eligible to return after serving the minimum 60 days. (Last updated: May 6)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

LHP Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Likely July
Springs is scheduled to throw a two-inning live BP session on May 15 before pitching in a Rookie-level Florida Complex League game on May 20, big steps in his return from elbow surgery. He underwent successful Tommy John surgery on April 24, 2023, and assuming his rehab continues to go well, he could be in line to rejoin the Rays’ rotation by July or August, president of baseball operations Erik Neander said prior to the season. Springs was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 15. (Last updated: May 14)

SS Taylor Walls (right hip surgery)
Expected return: TBD
Walls was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 20. The slick-fielding infielder has begun a Spring Training-type progression at the Rays' complex in Port Charlotte, Fla., which will take about two weeks before he starts getting into games.

Manager Kevin Cash said the team received a "very good report" from Walls' visit with Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd in Nashville, Tenn., on April 1. Given the amount of time Walls has missed, it seems likely he will have to essentially recreate a progression similar to Spring Training whenever he returns to game action.

Walls, whose injured list stint began March 25, underwent surgery on Oct. 27 to repair a labral tear and relieve discomfort from an impingement in his right hip. He said on Feb. 13 he had been dealing with a “noticeable hip impingement” for more than a year, and it reached the point in the playoffs where he could barely swing the bat. (Last updated: May 14)

RHP Drew Rasmussen (right flexor strain)
Expected return: Late 2024
Rasmussen went on the IL a day after tossing seven scoreless innings on May 11, 2023, in the Rays' 8-2 victory at Yankee Stadium. Manager Kevin Cash announced on July 8 that Rasmussen was slated to undergo a season-ending hybrid internal brace procedure, which he underwent on July 24. Rasmussen, who previously had two Tommy John surgeries, is doing well in his rehab and is scheduled to throw in an extended spring game around May 20. President of baseball operations Erik Neander said prior to the season that Rasmussen could return to the big league staff in the final months of the year. He was placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 20. (Last updated: May 3)

LHP Shane McClanahan (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Likely 2025
McClanahan has ramped up to throwing from 90 feet. Manager Kevin Cash said on May 3 that McClanahan is "progressing well," although he is still in the early stages of his rehab. The left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery on Aug. 21, his second time having the procedure. He is expected to miss the entire season, although the two-year contract he signed with the Rays in January to avoid arbitration included escalators for his 2025 to account for the possibility of a late-season return in ’24, if his rehab allows for it. He was officially placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 14, before the Rays' first Spring Training workout. (Last updated: May 3)

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