LATEST NEWS

June 29: 2B Brandon Lowe (fractured toe) back in starting lineup
Lowe was not in the starting lineup for the fifth straight game Friday night, but he saw his first game action in nearly a week when he pinch-hit for designated hitter Amed Rosario against reliever Dylan Floro in the seventh inning at Tropicana Field. Sporting a protective guard on his right cleat, Lowe struck out swinging to end the inning.

He returned to the starting lineup on Saturday, batting second as Tampa Bay's designated hitter and going deep in his first at-bat. Lowe is also dealing with an illness that limited his availability on Wednesday along with the lingering pain in his toe. Asked how he felt afterward, Lowe coughed and answered, "Horrible."

"Each day, I've gotten a little bit better, but I haven't had anything kick my butt like this in a long time," Lowe said. As for his toe, he said, "I mean, it's still attached. It hurts, and there's gonna be some adjustment to it. But today was a pretty good indication that things are OK and we'll be able to move forward with it."

Lowe suffered the injury during the first inning of the Rays' 4-3 loss to the Pirates at PNC Park on June 22, when he was hit on the right foot by a 91.1 mph slider from Pirates starter Jared Jones. He appeared to be in some pain but remained in the game and took his base, then advanced to second on a walk and to third on a wild pitch. He was replaced in the fifth inning by pinch-hitter Isaac Paredes.

• All Rays transactions

10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

LHP Richard Lovelady (left forearm flexor strain)
Expected return: Possibly this week
Lovelady, who was acquired from the Cubs in May, was placed on the 15-day injured list on June 8 with a left forearm flexor strain, one day after pitching a scoreless inning against the Orioles. The lefty reliever said he felt "a little tightness right below my bicep" on a 2-2 fastball during that inning but managed to get out of the inning by throwing two more sliders. He said he wasn't overly worried or concerned about the injury, had never felt it before and hasn't dealt with a similar issue in the past.

Manager Kevin Cash said the Rays are hoping for a short IL stint for Lovelady, who will throw a side session at Tropicana Field on June 27. For the season, Lovelady is 2-4 with a 7.62 ERA in 15 games -- including a 2-3 mark with a 7.36 ERA in eight games for the Rays. (Last updated: June 24)

INF Junior Caminero (left quad strain, No. 1 on Rays' Top 30 Prospects list)
Expected return: Likely July
Caminero, who has spent the entire season with Triple-A Durham after making his Major League debut last September, was placed on the Minor League seven-day injured list on May 29 after sustaining a Grade 2 left quad strain while running out a ground ball for the final out of the game on May 28.

The slugging third baseman is expected to miss four to six weeks, which will further delay his anticipated return to the Majors. He is doing well in his recovery and currently rehabbing at the club's Spring Training complex in Port Charlotte, Fla. (Last updated: June 13)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

LHP Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Likely late July
Springs made his fourth rehab start at Triple-A Durham on June 28, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out five without a walk over three innings. The lefty, who gave up all his runs on a homer in the second inning, threw 34 of his 48 pitches for strikes. Lehigh Valley whiffed on 12 of its 29 swings against Springs, according to Statcast, including six of 11 swings against his changeup.

Springs restarted his rehab assignment with the Rookie-level FCL Rays on June 7 after a brief setback due to left shoulder/lat tightness, giving up a hit and a walk while striking out three during a 24-pitch inning. He then moved to Durham and breezed through a two-inning start on June 12 and made another scoreless two-inning start on June 18. He permitted two runs (one earned) on two hits and one walk while striking out three over 2 1/3 innings on June 23.

Springs underwent Tommy John surgery on April 24, 2023 and was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 15. Before the season, president of baseball operations Erik Neander said Springs could be in line to rejoin the Rays' rotation by July or August. (Last updated: June 28)

RHP Jacob Waguespack (right rotator cuff inflammation)
Expected return: TBD
Waguespack was moved to the 60-day IL on May 18. He sustained a right shoulder injury during his last outing for Triple-A Durham that wasn't expected to require a significant stint on the shelf, but the Rays gained some flexibility by recalling him and placing him on the 15-day IL on May 6. Waguespack retired all four batters he faced, striking out three of them, in a start for the Rookie-level Florida Complex League Rays on June 25.

Had the reliever been placed on the Minor League IL, that stint would not have counted toward the time he's required to stay inactive after the move to the 60-day IL. So not only did the Rays open a roster spot for left-hander Richard Lovelady -- acquired in a trade on May 18 -- but they also guaranteed Waguespack will be eligible to return after serving the minimum 60 days, on July 5. (Last updated: June 25)

RHP Drew Rasmussen (right flexor strain)
Expected return: Late 2024
Manager Kevin Cash said on June 24 that Rasmussen will throw a live batting practice session on July 2 and begin a rehab assignment after the All-Star break, which ends July 18. He started throwing bullpen sessions on May 21 and is currently throwing 30 pitches per session.

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 last July 8 that Rasmussen was slated to undergo a season-ending hybrid internal brace procedure, which he underwent last July 24. Rasmussen previously had two Tommy John surgeries.

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: June 24)

LHP Shane McClanahan (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Likely 2025
McClanahan has ramped up to throwing from 135 feet. Manager Kevin Cash said on June 24 that McClanahan is "doing well," although he is still unlikely to pitch this season. The left-hander underwent Tommy John surgery on Aug. 21, his second time having the procedure.

McClanahan 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: June 24)

LHP Brendan McKay (left elbow; Minor League injured list)
Expected return: Possibly late 2024
McKay, who began the season with Double-A Montgomery, reported left elbow discomfort on May 3 after being promoted to Triple-A Durham and was placed on the Minor League 60-day IL on May 11. He told the club the issue began after his April 30 outing with Montgomery.

A former top prospect who has been set back by a series of arm injuries since debuting for the Rays in 2019, McKay was diagnosed with a flexor/pronator strain and an accompanying UCL sprain after having an MRI exam 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. (Last updated: May 14)

• More injury news