Tampa Bay Rays Roster News: Brad Boxberger Placed on DL to Recover from Groin Surgery
The Tampa Bay Rays will be missing All-Star Brad Boxberger for the first 15 games of the new season after the closer was placed on the disabled list by the team, although the move was kind of expected after he underwent groin surgery in spring training. The 15-day rest is expected to give him more than enough time to recover.
The 27-year old came into the league in 2009 when the Cincinnati Reds drafted him in the first round and 43rd overall, but he made his debut in the Class A-Advanced Carolina League, playing for the Lynchburg Hillcats. He was last traded to the San Diego Padres and then found himself traded once again in 2014 to the Rays. All throughout his career, Boxberger has been utilized either as a setup pitcher or closer.
Meanwhile, The Associated Press also reported that right-hander Alex Cobb also has been put on the 15-day disabled list to get sufficient healing time after undergoing Tommy John surgery that forced him to miss the entirety of last season.
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With the current timeline, Boxberger is therefore expected to return to the lineup by the middle part of May. At that point, he will again be designated as the team's closer, a position he has grown accustomed to last season.
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Also, the Rays made several other moves on Saturday to gear up for Opening Day. Right hander Andrew Bellatti and outfielder Mikie Mahtook were both relegated to Triple-A Durham while the contract of left-hander Dana Eveland has been purchased. With this development, it has become clearer that Eveland and right hander Danny Farquhar will be filling in the final two spots of the 25-man roster, giving the team some flexibility in the pen. Likewise, management seems satisfied with the current lineup of position players that they decided against acquiring an extra.
