As the Tampa Bay Rays look to improve and continue their impressive streak, the team that owns the league’s best record (12-0) was delivered a massive blow during Thursday afternoon’s game against the Boston Red Sox.
During the fourth inning, starting pitcher Jeffrey Springs was pulled from the game due to an apparent injury. In the top of the fourth, Justin Turner fouled off a pitch from Springs, who was messing with his pitching hand after releasing the pitch. He then was immediately taken out of the game by his manager, Kevin Cash, and the training staff.
According to Tricia Whitaker, who serves as the Rays’ sideline reporter and host for Bally Sports Florida, Springs left today’s game with left arm ulnar neuritis. The ulnar nerve is thought of as the “funny bone” and Springs’ injury is considered to be inflammation of the ulnar nerve in the arm, which results in numbness or weakness in the hand, which could help explain why he was messing with his pitching hand.
Jeffrey Springs left today’s game with left arm ulnar neuritis. He will be reevaluated tomorrow morning.
— Tricia Whitaker (@TriciaWhitaker) April 13, 2023
Before being pulled, Springs had allowed just one run over three innings, while striking out five Red Sox batters. That lone allowed run was a Rob Refsnyder first-inning home run. On the season, the 30-year-old Springs has been pretty fantastic, pitching to a 2-0 record with a 0.56 ERA with 34 strikeouts in 16 innings pitched.
The Rays will reevaluate Springs tomorrow morning. The MLB world reacted to the horrible Rays news on social media:
While that initially sounds like really good news, my guess is he will go in for an MRI to evaluate the integrity of the ulnar, UCL & flexor/Pronator muscles.
Best case scenario it’s ‘only’ inflammation & fluid around the ulnar nerve.
If ligament/tendon/muscle injury then… pic.twitter.com/zDEEPTi13k
— Jesse Morse, MD, MBA (@DrJesseMorse) April 13, 2023
This is infinitely better than what we all feared the diagnosis would be
— Tim Gates (@raysfantg) April 13, 2023
Jeffrey Springs – TB Rays
L elbow injuryThis replay video scares me.
Don’t like how he is gripping his hand, then looks down at it as if something happened.
Let’s hope it’s just his ulnar nerve that’s irritated but I have obvious concerns about pronator, flexor & UCL. https://t.co/3oXCLJpmMZ
— Jesse Morse, MD, MBA (@DrJesseMorse) April 13, 2023
Doing a little research on ulnar neuritis after reports of Jeffrey Springs' injury. Obviously, severity matters. If it's worst-case scenario — Springs will miss a good chunk of time this season. Seems like this injury is more 3-6 months versus 12-18 of TJ.
— Evan Closky (@ECloskyWTSP) April 13, 2023
Latest update on Jeffrey Springs. I’m not a doctor but I don’t like the sound of ulnar neuritis https://t.co/U8NZb0IxDO
— Aaron Jacobson (@JacobsonOnAir) April 13, 2023
Not What You Want https://t.co/KTTTGSRADO
— Michael Bradburn (@MWBII) April 13, 2023
Doesn't sound promising. #Rays will know more tomorrow. https://t.co/4akBcQMhMV
— Tom Krasniqi (@TKras) April 13, 2023
Jeffrey Springs can have my left arm, I don’t need it 😭
— Really Big Randy Glove (@Im_Swirlin) April 13, 2023
[Tricia Whitaker, Summit Orthopedics]