Shane McClanahan Injury Update: When Will SP Be Back and Return to Rays?

Matt Burke looks at the information surrounding Tampa Bay Rays ace left-hander Shane McClanhan and his potential return to the mound.

Esten McLaren

Last updated: May 20, 2025 11:45 AM EDT • 4 min read

Shane McClanahan Injury Update: When Will SP Be Back and Return to Rays? — Pictured: Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Shane McClanahan (18) throws a pitch. Photo by Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images.

Tampa Bay Rays lefty Shane McClanahan seemed poised to become a perennial Cy Young candidate until injuries derailed his career. The 28-year-old missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery, but is focused on returning this season. Rays fans and fantasy baseball owners are now wondering exactly when McClanahan will be back on the mound.

Below, we will deliver an injury update on McClanahan, and dish out an expected return date.

When will Shane McClanahan return and be back with the Rays?

McClanahan was set to be the Rays’ Opening Day starter but nerve irritation in his left triceps area in March further delayed his return. He was put on the 60-day IL on April 26.

McClanahan is eligible to return in late June, but it seems likely that Tampa Bay will wait until after the All-Star break to bring back their ace. Tampa Bay Times reporter Marc Topkin wrote in mid-May that McClanahan is still feeling discomfort in his left triceps while playing catch from 60 feet. A rehab start still looks like it is a few weeks away from happening.

If McClanahan is good to go to open the second half of the season, here is a look at the Rays’ schedule coming out of the All-Star break.

Friday, July 18 vs. Baltimore Orioles
Saturday, July 19 vs. Baltimore Orioles
Sunday, July 20 vs. Baltimore Orioles
Monday, July 21 vs. Chicago White Sox
Tuesday, July 22 vs. Chicago White Sox
Wednesday, July 23 vs. Chicago White Sox

How long will Shane McClanahan be out?

To say McClanahan has traveled a tough road to return to MLB would be a grand understatement. The lefty hurler had Tommy John surgery on Aug. 21, 2023. That recovery typically takes 12-14 months.

It was all systems go in spring training for 2025, and he was throwing in the high 90s, but he exited a March 22 game against Boston with “left triceps tightness.” He was later diagnosed with “nerve irritation” in the left triceps area.

Nerve irritation for pitchers can sometimes be solved by simply making mechanical tweaks to their throwing motion. This was the case for then-Rangers pitcher Max Scherzer last year. Scherzer returned to pitch for Texas after 43 days on the shelf due to nerve irritation in the triceps, and likely would have returned earlier had the Rangers had a better shot at making the postseason down the stretch of last season.

McClanahan has now been out 58 days with the nerve issue.

The Rays are obviously using an abundance of caution with McClanahan, considering he is also coming off of Tommy John surgery.

Expect McClanahan to be out until after the MLB All-Star break.

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Written By:
Esten McLaren

Esten is the Senior Publishing Editor for SportsbookReview.com. He has been in the sports betting industry since the legalization of mobile sports betting in New Jersey, and with SportsbookReview prior to the launch of sports betting in Ontario. Esten's previous stops include the USA TODAY network, including GolfWeek. He previously worked in the fantasy sports industry, with FNTSY Sports Network, theScore, and USA TODAY. Esten graduated from the College of Sports Media with a diploma in Radio and Television Sports Broadcasting after acquiring a degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Guelph. He has appeared on FNTSY Sports Network, VSiN, and VSiN's Long Shots podcast, where he correctly called Will Zalatoris as the winner of the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship. Esten is a big proponent of the entertainment side of sports betting and loves to dip his toes into the novelty and alt-markets while chasing long shots with reduced wagers on golf outrights and futures markets. He's also been known to sprinkle some lunch money on touchdown-scorer parlays with two notable hits still funding his bankroll. Esten looks at sports betting much like golf and advises beginner bettors to compete against themselves rather than being concerned with what others may or may not be doing based on social media claims.