Rays Prospect Tyler Zombro Posts Update on Brain Surgery Recovery After Scary Injury
Jun 18, 2021
New York Yankees' Tyler Zombro delivers a pitch during the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)
Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Tyler Zombro provided an update on his health as he recovers from brain surgery.
In a series of tweets, he thanked those who have helped him at Duke University Hospital, thanked those who have offered support, thanked the Rays and Durham Bulls, and said he "can't wait to get back out there."
Thank you again to the entire baseball community for the support, I’m one lucky guy and can’t wait to get back out there (whenever that is)! God Bless you all! #BULLievepic.twitter.com/NMlsyK8Q34
As ESPN noted, Zombro was hit in the head by a line drive hit by Brett Cumberland during a Triple-A game between the Bulls and Norfolk Tides on June 3.
He immediately fell to the ground in a scary scene and was taken to the hospital after he was removed from the field on a stretcher.
Zombro, 26, spent five days in the intensive care unit after his surgery and is now with his family as he participates in outpatient and occupational therapy.
Rays' Tyler Glasnow Diagnosed with Partial UCL Tear After MRI on Elbow Injury
Jun 15, 2021
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - JUNE 14: Starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow #20 of the Tampa Bay Rays delivers the ball against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on June 14, 2021 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Tyler Glasnow has been diagnosed with a partially torn UCL and a strained flexor tendon, according to multiple reports.
#Rays Glasnow update: Glasnow underwent a MRI this morning in Chicago, which revealed a partial UCL tear as well as flexor strain. A timeline for his return will be determined after further medical evaluation.
Tampa Bay Rays ace Tyler Glasnow has a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament and a flexor tendon strain. The plan for now is to try to rehab the injury to avoid Tommy John and eventually return, but it’s a brutal blow for Glasnow, who’s been phenomenal, and the MLB-best Rays.
Glasnow left Monday night's start after four innings with what was described as right elbow inflammation.
He was placed on the 10-day injured list, with a timeline for recovery to be determined.
"The last couple of pitches I felt just a little tug," Glasnow told reporters after the game. "I didn't want to go out and chance it. The velo was still there; it just felt not right."
"It just felt not right," Tyler Glasnow.
After experiencing some tightness in his right elbow, Tyler said that rather than push it and try to go back out for another inning he thought the safest thing to do was come out.#MLB#RaysUppic.twitter.com/pHdT5CWLbW
— Rays on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Rays) June 15, 2021
Tyler Glasnow just went off about the midseason crackdown. He stopped using sunscreen a couple starts ago and felt sore afterwards due to difficulty with grip. Same last night. Says it contributed to his current injury. He’s hopeful to be back at the end of the season.
It's a huge loss for the 43-24 Rays. Glasnow, 27, is 5-2 this season with a 2.66 ERA, 0.93 WHIP and 123 strikeouts in 88 innings. While Gerrit Cole, Lance Lynn and Shane Bieber are the early favorites to win the American League Cy Young Award, Glasnow was putting together a season that would have had him in the running.
We have pitchers with "partial UCL tears" pitching in the big leagues right now, who never had surgery. But this is still a big blow for the Rays.
They just went to the World Series with Glasnow, Snell & Morton - and now face life with none of the above. https://t.co/rOMcHd9PZW
The Rays will be without their ace for the time being, meaning starters Rich Hill, Ryan Yarbrough and Shane McClanahan will need to step up. The Rays bullpen remains one of the best units in baseball (3.03 ERA, third in MLB), while the offense has been excellent (five runs per game, sixth in MLB).
Tampa Bay is built to continue winning, even without its ace. But if he needs surgery or cannot return this season, the team's World Series hopes will take a severe blow.
Rays' Minor-Leaguer Tyler Zombro Progressing After Being Hit in Head by Line Drive
Jun 6, 2021
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 22: Tyler Zombro #82 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses during Photo Day on Monday, February 22, 2021 at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Rays minor leaguer Tyler Zombro is "still progressing in the right direction," according to Rays manager Kevin Cash.
Cash told reporters Zombro is able to get out of his hospital bed and walk around with some assistance.
The right-handed reliever was pitching for the Triple-A Durham Bulls on Thursday night when he took a line drive to the head. The Bulls and Norfolk Tides called the game in the eighth inning due to his injury.
The Rays said Friday that Zombro remained at Duke University Hospital and that he was in stable condition.
Rays reliever Ryan Sherriff called the moment Zombro was injured "one of the most traumatic things I've ever experienced in my life."
"Very chilling," he said. "I spent my offseason with Zombro. We worked out together. And it really hit home to me after everything that I saw. I wish him the best. I wish his family the best. Just hope he is doing great."
Zombro, who attended George Mason, signed with the Rays in June 2017. He quickly rose up through the ranks and reached the Triple-A level in 2019.
Through nine appearances for the Bulls in 2021, he has a 1-1 record, nine strikeouts and a 3.18 ERA over 11.1 innings.
Durham Bulls' Game vs. Norfolk Tides Postponed Day After Tyler Zombro's Head Injury
Jun 4, 2021
DURHAM, NC - JULY 28: The Chicago White Sox play the Most Valuable Prospects during the championship game of the 2011 Breakthrough Series at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park on July 28, 2011 in Durham, North Carolina. Most Valuable Prospects won 17-2 over the Chicago White Sox. (Photo by Sara D. Davis/Getty Images)
Friday's Triple-A game between the Durham Bulls and Norfolk Tides has been postponed following a severe head injury to Tampa Bay Rays prospect Tyler Zombro during Thursday's outing.
The Bulls' reliever was struck in the head by a line-drive a few pitches after taking the mound in the eighth inning and reportedly collapsed face first before convulsing on the mound. He was quickly taken off the field on a stretcher and transported to a local hospital.
Officials initially suspended play on Thursday before deciding to call the game following the incident.
The 26-year-old right-hander was taken to Duke University Hospital and remains in "stable condition" under the care of the medical staff at the facility. According to the Rays, overnight updates on Zombro's condition have been "positive." The Major League Club will continue to provide information on the pitcher's status as available.
Zombro was making his 10th appearance of the season with Durham after being promoted to Triple-A at the end of April. Heading into Thursday's action, the righty had tallied nine strikeouts and one walk in 11.1 innings pitched with four earned runs for a 1.41 WHIP.
No makeup date has been determined for the Bulls and Tides.
Durham Bulls' Tyler Zombro Hospitalized After Scary Head Injury; Game Suspended
Jun 4, 2021
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Tyler Zombro #82 of the Tampa Bay Rays poses during Photo Day on Monday, February 17, 2020 at Charlotte Sports Park in Port Charlotte, Florida. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Tyler Zombro was struck in the head with a line drive during Thursday's outing for the Triple-A Durham Bulls against the Norfolk Tides leading the teams to suspend the game in the eighth inning once the severity of the situation became clear.
Tonight’s game has been suspended in the 8th inning after Bulls pitcher Tyler Zombro was hit by a batted ball.
Zombro was five pitches into his outing during the eighth inning when he was hit with a line drive straight off the bat of Brett Cumberland. Zombro was transported to a local hospital for additional treatment. A short while later, the game was officially called.
According to Chris Lea of WRAL-TV, Zombro fell straight to the ground and began convulsing as trainers rushed to assist him. He was eventually taken off on a stretcher as players for both teams took a knee on the field.
Durham Bulls pitcher Tyler Zombro took a line drive into the head, fell face first and started convulsing on the ground. The game has stopped as players are praying and kneeling on the field. Stretcher is out at the DBAP.
— Chris Lea - Sportscaster (@ChrisLeaTV) June 4, 2021
The 26-year-old was making his 10th appearance of the season for Durham, where he'd gone 1-1 with a 3.18 ERA in 11.1 innings pitched. Zombro entered the night with nine strikeouts on one walk with just four earned runs and a 1.41 WHIP.
Tampa Bay invited Zombro to spring training in both 2020 and 2021. He was promoted to Durham on April 30 from the Montgomery Biscuits.
As Yankees Fall, Rays Rise and Red Sox Hold Course in Tantalizing AL East Race
Zachary D. Rymer
Jun 1, 2021
New York Yankees' Tyler Wade walks to the dugout after striking out during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Detroit Tigers, Sunday, May 30, 2021, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)
After two months, only one of Major League Baseball's six
divisions features four teams above the .500 mark.
It's the American League East, and it's wild.
With 16 wins in their last 17 games, the reigning American
League champion Tampa Bay Rays are back atop the division. Breathing down their
necks are the Boston Red Sox, who are clearly determined to make up for their
last-place finish in 2020.
Yet the big surprise in the AL East is the relative
mediocrity of the New York Yankees. They came into the year as a presumed World
Series contender and are still in that conversation, but they've been
sidetracked by injuries and a wave of losses punctuated by a three-game
sweep by the lowly Detroit Tigers over Memorial Day weekend.
Though the Yankees still have four months to turn their
fortunes around, the seriousness of their problems and the difficulty of the
road ahead don't paint a rosy picture.
AL
East Standings
Tampa Bay Rays, 35-20
Boston Red Sox, 32-21 (2.0 GB)
New York Yankees, 29-25 (5.5 GB)
Toronto Blue Jays, 27-25 (6.5 GB)
Baltimore Orioles, 17-37 (17.5 GB)
The Yankees Are Banged Up and Lack Bang on Offense
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 25: Corey Kluber #28 of the New York Yankees walks to the dugout against the Toronto Blue Jays during the second inning at Yankee Stadium on May 25, 2021 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
On Opening Day, FanGraphs pegged the Yankees' chances of winning
the AL East at a sturdy 71.0 percent. Even as recently as May 12, they were still
as high as 67.8 percent.
The Yankees staff might be able to weather the loss of
Kluber. Mainly courtesy of a Cy Young Award-caliber season by $324 million
ace Gerrit Cole, the club ranks first in the AL with a 3.22 ERA. And in the
coming weeks, starter Luis Severino (see here) and ace reliever Zack Britton (here) are due back from their Tommy John and elbow
surgeries.
However, the Yankees are shockingly deficient in other
aspects of the game. Neil Paine of FiveThirtyEight wrote all about the
club's issues with defense, baserunning and situational hitting, yet nothing
looms as large as its baffling shortage of offensive firepower.
To wit, the Yankees are only in the middle of the
pack with 62 home runs and third from
the bottom with a .371 slugging percentage. You'd never know they still have many of the same members of a unit that slugged .490 with
306 home runs just two years ago.
The injuries obviously haven't helped. Nor is it helping
that DJ LeMahieu and Clint Frazier are having down years after lighting things up in 2020.
Then there's the curious case of Gleyber Torres, who's gone from 62 homers in
his first two seasons to just five over his last two.
Yet there are also foundational issues.
For instance, the Yankees' ground-ball percentage is up 4.2 points from 2019. They're also striking
out 24.9 percent of the time, compared to 23.0 percent in 2019 and 21.7
percent just last year.
The Yankees are part of a leaguewide issue in the latter regard, yet
what's unique about their strikeout problem is how it derives from misses on
hittable pitches. Whereas their rate of contact outside the strike zone is only down from
61.4 to 60.1 percent since 2019, their contact percentage inside the zone has fallen from 85.0 to 82.0 percent.
Even more so than manager Aaron Boone, such things ought to
have Yankees hitting coach Marcus Thames on the hot seat. But even if he were
to be relieved of duty, the Yankees would still have holes at first base and
center field by way of Voit's and Hicks' injuries. General manager Brian
Cashman may need to fill those on the trade market.
Either way, the Yankees are running out of time to be
patient.
The Rays Are Just Really Good
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - MAY 27: Austin Meadows #17 of the Tampa Bay Rays is congratulated by Brandon Lowe #8 after a two run home run in the third inning during a game against the Kansas City Royals at Tropicana Field on May 27, 2021 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images)
You only have to go back to May 12 to find a time when the
Rays were a mere .500 team (19-19, to be exact) that was looking up at three
clubs in the AL East.
But in the weeks since then, they've looked a lot more like
the team that won an AL-high 40 games and pushed the Los Angeles Dodgers to six
games in the 2020 World Series.
It's perhaps easiest to notice the Rays' excellence when
they're in the field. They lead the American League in defensive runs saved and all of MLB in outs above average. And while the guys with the
gloves deserve the lion's share of the credit for that, manager Kevin Cash and
the club's analytics department deserve some for opponents' .198 average on ground balls against shifted or
strategic infield alignments.
Though Tyler Glasnow has certainly carried the rotation with a 2.57 ERA and 98 strikeouts over 70 innings, it's also to Cash's credit that the pitching staff has withstood the offseason departures of Blake Snell and Charlie Morton as well as it has.
Even after he got roasted for his quick hook of Snell in Game 6 of the Fall Classic, Cash has stuck to his guns and limited his starters to only 4.8 innings per outing. Yet he's had a good feel for when to extend them, as the 178 instances in which they've faced a hitter for a third time in a game have yielded an AL-low .544 OPS.
On days when his starters don't go deep, Cash is liable to make up the difference by having the next guys up go more than one inning at a time. The Rays lead MLB with 62 relief appearances that resulted in more than three outs, and 51 of those also yielded one or zero earned runs.
And don't sleep on the Rays offense.
Sure, it has the second-highest strikeout rate in MLB behind only the Tigers. But it's nonetheless scoring five runs per game, and it's been one of the hottest in baseball since May 13.
That's not because the strikeouts have dissipated. It's more so because Rays hitters have been racking up walks and home runs, and many of the latter spring from a specific quality.
Since May 13, only the Red Sox and Minnesota Twins have done a better job than the Rays of pulling the ball in the sweet spot. So far this season, batted balls that match that description have a 1.396 slugging percentage.
If all this isn't a strong enough indication that the Rays are in the race to stay, consider what's become of their chances of winning the division. Since May 12, they've skyrocketed from 3.5 to 36.1 percent.
The Red Sox Are Holding Course, And the Blue Jays Are Lingering
BOSTON, MA - MAY 26: Alex Verdugo #99 of the Boston Red Sox high fives Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox after scoring in the sixth inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park on May 26, 2021 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
As the Yankees have fallen and the Rays have risen, it's perhaps been easy to lose sight of the Red Sox. But rest assured, they're still there.
Though it's been a while since the Red Sox's nine-game winning streak in April, they've continued to stay well above water with a 23-18 record over their last 41 games. They've subsisted on superb offense from J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers as well as a Matt Barnes-led bullpen that's better than it gets credit for.
With ace left-hander Chris Sale due back from Tommy John surgery sometime this summer, the Red Sox might not need to seek help on the trade market for a rotation that is paper-thin. As it is, Boston is right there with New York and Tampa Bay with a 23.2 percent chance to win the AL East.
Lest anyone think we're forgetting about them, the Toronto Blue Jays may yet crash the party.
They've been up and down, and they're about to be tested as they leave behind their hitter-friendly digs at TD Ballpark in Dunedin, Florida, for more of a controlled environment at Sahlen Field in Buffalo, New York. The move could squeeze a home run flow that's thus far helped pour out an AL-high 77 long balls.
On the flip side, that venue switch could be a boon to a pitching staff that has the second-best road ERA (3.57) of any AL team. And at some point, $150 million signee George Springer (right quad strain) should get healthy and help Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Marcus Semien carry the lineup.
At 12.7 percent, the Blue Jays' chances of winning the AL East aren't much to look at. But that's also not bad for a club that almost certainly hasn't peaked yet—and which almost certainly will eventually.
Only Baltimore Orioles fans should give up on winning the AL East. For everyone else, it's the best four-horse race in town.
Rays' Stuart Sternberg Sued by 5 Minority Owners, Allegedly Had Secret Montreal Talks
May 25, 2021
Members of the Tampa Bay Rays take batting practice at Tropicana Field before a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Friday, July 24, 2020, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
While the Tampa Bay Rays are in first place in the American League East on the field, there is reportedly plenty of turmoil in the ownership group off it.
On Monday, Josh Solomon and Emily L. Mahoney of the Tampa Bay Times reported a group of the team's minority owners filed a lawsuit against principal owner Stuart Sternberg. The suit is seeking more than $30,000 in damages and for his company to be expelled as general partner.
The lawsuit states Sternberg has schemed relentlessly to acquire more control of the Rays and in 2014 began secret negotiations to sell an interest in the team to Montreal investors.
City officials told Solomon and Mahoney that the alleged negotiations may have violated the Rays' exclusivity clause with their Tropicana Field lease, which requires the team to play all its home games there through the 2027 campaign and not negotiate to play somewhere else.
The suit states Sternberg has increased his stake in the team to 85 percent from the 49 percent he had in 2004. According to the suit, he did so by negotiating "a secret series of contracts" with previous managing partner Vince Naimoli and, as he continued to acquire stakes, began "secretly negotiating" with Canadian businessman Stephen Bronfman and his Montreal Baseball Group in 2014.
He also allegedly forced some partners to sell their shares to him at less than their value and then transferred "the entire baseball club and franchise" to a new company under his management without telling the other partners.
Solomon and Mahoney noted the Rays and the city of St. Petersburg are negotiating about the team's future and where it will play starting in 2028. Part of the negotiation is about whether there will be a new stadium and if the club will play a split season in St. Petersburg and Montreal, which hasn't been home to an MLB team since the Expos left to become the Washington Nationals after the 2004 season.
"The residents of St. Petersburg and fans of the Rays should not be made to wait any longer for clarity related to the future of the team in Tampa Bay or redevelopment of the Tropicana Field site," St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman said in a statement.
The Rays have played at Tropicana Field since their inaugural season in 1998, when they were the Devil Rays.
They have reached two World Series and played in the playoffs six times. The 2021 team has an opportunity to add to that following a 30-19 start and is a half-game ahead of the Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
Rays Top Prospect Wander Franco's Signed Card Sells for $200K at Auction
May 23, 2021
Tampa Bay Rays' Wander Franco, looks up after he hits a home run in the first inning during a spring training baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday, March 3, 2021, in Port Charlotte, Fla. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)
Wander Franco hasn't made his major league debut, but his rookie card is already pulling in the big bucks.
A signed 2019 Bowman Red Refractor graded PSA 10 sold for $198,030 on Saturday. It's one of just five copies.
Franco, who is playing for Tampa Bay's Triple-A affiliate, is ranked as the No. 1 prospect in MLB.
The infielder has appeared in 16 games for the Durham Bulls this season, hitting .269/.333/.493 with three home runs and 10 RBI. He had not played above the High-A level since he signed with the Rays in July 2017.
The 2018 Appalachian League MVP spent the 2020 season at the team's alternate training site and was a member of the taxi squad during Tampa Bay's run to the World Series (where they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers).
On Friday, Tampa Bay traded shortstop Willy Adames to the Milwaukee Brewers as part of a package that netted the Rays a pair of pitchers, which could soon make room for the 20-year-old Franco in the big leagues—though the team called up his current teammate Taylor Walls instead.
Even without Franco on the roster, the Rays have managed to edge their way past the New York Yankees into second place in the AL East at 28-19, one game behind the first-place Boston Red Sox.
When Franco does finally get the call, interest in his key rookie cards will undoubtedly reach a fever pitch.
Rays' Kevin Kiermaier Has Eye Irritation from His Eyelash: 'Feels Like... Sand'
May 23, 2021
Tampa Bay Rays' Kevin Kiermaier stands in center field after his throw to home plate was not in time to prevent Oakland Athletics' Matt Olson scoring from third on Mitch Moreland's sacrifice fly during the sixth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, April 27, 2021, in St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP Photo/Steve Nesius)
Kiermaier told reporters it felt like he had sand in his eye:
"A couple minutes in, I was like, dang it, I got an eyelash in my eye. There was an eyelash in there and then we rinsed my eye, and then it disappeared or kind of went into one of these crevices or whatever. Once that happened, everything took a turn for the worse."
"I don't know how or if we scratched, that's definitely what it feels like. I keep telling people it just feels like a piece of sand on the inside of my eyelid. Every time I blink, just pressure, irritation, a scratching feeling."
Injuries have been a fairly common occurrence for the three-time Gold Glove winner. Upon becoming an MLB regular in 2014, he made 150-plus appearances once through his first six years. He then missed 11 games in the shortened 2020 campaign.
Most recently, Kiermaier sprained his left wrist in the Rays' 6-3 defeat to the Oakland Athletics on May 8. He was sliding into second base on an attempted steal when his left arm came to an abrupt stop on the knee of A's third baseman Matt Chapman.
Kevin Kiermaier appears to injure his left wrist while trying to steal second base and has to leave the game.
— Rays on FanDuel Sports Network (@FanDuelSN_Rays) May 8, 2021
By and large, Kiermaier has been a below-average hitter in MLB. He has a .309 career weighted on-base average and a 96 weighted runs created plus, per FanGraphs.
Tampa Bay will miss the 31-year-old's presence in center, though, because he remains one of baseball's best defensive outfielders. Going to Brett Phillips, who replaced Kiermaier after the sprained wrist, represents a clear downgrade in that regard.
Rays' Kevin Kiermaier Exits vs. Athletics with Wrist Injury
May 8, 2021
PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - FEBRUARY 26: Kevin Kiermaier #39 of the Tampa Bay Rays bats during a Grapefruit League spring training game against the Minnesota Twins at Charlotte Sports Park on February 26, 2020 in Port Charlotte, Florida. The Twins defeated the Rays 10-8. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Kiermaier was removed from the game as he held his left wrist after he slid into second base on a steal attempt in the top of the second inning at the Oakland Coliseum.
Injuries have been a persistent theme throughout Kiermaier's career. He made 150-plus appearances just once in his first six seasons upon becoming a regular for Tampa Bay, missing an average of almost 49 games per year.
The 31-year-old was absent for 11 of the Rays' 60 games during the shortened 2020 campaign. He largely struggled at the plate, finishing with a .683 OPS. He continued to be an elite fielder, though, even if he wasn't a Gold Glove finalist at his position.
This season has seen Kiermaier continue to struggle at the plate. He was hitting .217/.289/.290 with no homers and five RBI in 22 games entering Saturday.
With Kiermaier unavailable, Brett Phillips took over in center field and Manuel Margot moved into right field for the Rays.
