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Zach Eflin Headed For MRI On Left Knee

By Steve Adams | July 26, 2023 at 2:24pm CDT

Rays right-hander Zach Eflin exited today’s game after just four innings, and he’s now headed for an MRI after experiencing discomfort in his left knee, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweets. It’s an ominous development both for a pitcher with chronic knee issues and a Rays rotation that has already been clobbered by injuries in 2023.

Eflin, 29, signed a three-year deal worth a guaranteed $40MM in Tampa Bay this offseason — the largest free-agent expenditure (though not the largest overall contract) in Rays history. He entered play with a 3.36 ERA, 25.7% strikeout rate and sensational 3.6% walk rate in 112 1/3 innings — already his highest total since 2019. However, Eflin was hit hard today, yielding five runs on seven hits and a walk, and he departed after four innings.

Eflin has spoken openly about his battles with knee problems that date back to before he was even drafted. He underwent surgery to repair the patellar tendon in both knees back in 2016, and in 2021 he underwent a second surgery on his right knee. Further problems in that right knee sidelined Eflin for more than two months last summer.

That Eflin’s current issue is in his left knee and not his twice-repaired right knee isn’t likely to be a source of much comfort for the Rays and their fans. The team was surely wary of the risk of renewed knee problems when signing Eflin, though his performance to this point in the season does plenty to highlight why the Tampa Bay front office was willing to take that gamble.

The Rays are already dealing with several notable injuries in the rotation. Shane Baz had Tommy John surgery last September and isn’t expected to pitch in 2023. Jeffrey Springs underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this year and won’t return until 2024. Drew Rasmussen’s season is also over, owing to surgery to repair a flexor tear. Lefty Josh Fleming is on the 60-day injured list due to an elbow issue.

Tampa Bay is already known to be on the hunt for rotation upgrades, and any absence of note for Eflin would only hasten their pursuits. They’ve been linked to the Cardinals’ rental starters and were reported this morning to be in talks with the White Sox on right-hander Lance Lynn.

With sudden uncertainty regarding Eflin’s health, the Rays’ only three healthy starters are Shane McClanahan, Tyler Glasnow and rookie Taj Bradley. It’s a talented trio, but injuries have thinned out the team’s depth and contributed to the Rays’ slide in the standings after a dominant start to the season. President of baseball operations Erik Neander, GM Peter Bendix and the rest of the staff seem all but certain to augment the rotation between now and next Tuesday’s trade deadline.

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Tampa Bay Rays Zach Eflin

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View Comments (23)
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23 Comments

  1. iamrightyouarewrong

    2 years ago

    That’s too bad, Zach was finally putting together a nice season. No Phillies fan will be surprised by this news though.

    5
    Reply
  2. VonPurpleHayes

    2 years ago

    This was going to be his first season without knee issues. Ugh. I feel so bad for the dude. So good, but those knees kill him.

    7
    Reply
    • Bart Harley Jarvis

      2 years ago

      I was disappointed when the Phillies didn’t exercise his option. He’s a talented pitcher and great teammate with $#!tty knees.

      1
      Reply
      • Churchill’s Pancakes

        2 years ago

        It was a mutual option that Eflin turned down.

        1
        Reply
  3. King of Cards

    2 years ago

    Geez best team in baseball for much of the season but their pitching is falling apart. Cardinals have Montgomery and Flaherty both available but kinda getting tired of talking trades with biased fools. Not to mention I would have to find a Rays fan to talk to.

    I like the Rays. Wish them luck but it’s not looking good for them right now.

    3
    Reply
    • Sideline Redwine

      2 years ago

      I’m a Rays fan, and I’d be happy to take those guys off your hands! Can you throw in a catcher who doesn’t swing at everything? lol. Not looking good indeed. Four starting pitchers out now (I expect the worst with Eflin). A teamwide slump makes things worse, especially when the most consistent player (Yandy) may be out a while. Eek.

      1
      Reply
      • King of Cards

        2 years ago

        Montgomery
        Flaherty
        Herrera he’s ready to play and cheap

        And we got Hicks and Stratton if you need relievers too.

        Cardinals would want Baz methinks. What else you got?

        Reply
      • Motor City Beach Bum

        2 years ago

        Or go bulk shopping at Scott Harris’ Tigers store and get Lorenzen and Erod. For the right price maybe they send you Jake Rogers too but I doubt it. It will cost you though…Tigers need offence. TB has lots of prospects to spare and matches up good on paper.

        Reply
        • King of Cards

          2 years ago

          Just off the top of my head those 3 are probably similar in value to the Cardinals 3 I named.

          Tigers might match up better simply because there are more team needs in Detroit.

          I think both the Tigers and Cardinals have some big trades coming.

          1
          Reply
  4. fljay73

    2 years ago

    Need to fix the Offense. Read somewhere (not counting today’s debacle) that the Rays Offense scored 1 or 2 runs in 11 of the last 18 games. Only Diaz & Paredes hit above .240 during that same stretch.

    Reply
  5. dano62

    2 years ago

    Orioles on a roll & rest of AL East gaining (Yankees? Hello?) puts Rays on hot seat. Randy hitting like Mandy, Wander like Flounder, & a squeezed rotation… have to think if ownership’s preference would be to sell instead of buy just to save on electricity (keeping the lights off in October)

    Reply
  6. cpdpoet

    2 years ago

    Loved Eflin on Philly and was stoked for him when he got his Tampa deal.

    When we heard he told Philly’s brass to ‘eff off with their forced approach on how he should pitch (after it did not work out for him) and went back to his strength…loved him tossing a Philly ‘tude back at the brass…

    1
    Reply
  7. Sideline Redwine

    2 years ago

    Why not? Already missing three-fifths of the rotation, may as well make it four-fifths.

    The Rays now need a minimum of two pitchers, and someone who can hit; finding a catcher is imperative. Or…at this point, maybe sell? Season is going down the drain quite quickly, with no light at the end of the tunnel…

    Reply
    • Samuel

      2 years ago

      Sideline Redwine;

      Why do the Rays continue to burn out pitchers?

      I believe they’ve developed a way for pitchers to be successful which results in overuse of their arms, shoulders, elbows, forearms and/or wrists in order to get more MPH and spin on their pitches. As usual, the Rays are trendsetters for the rest of MLB as pitchers are going out with injuries this year even worse than last year. But knees? Ah, “Pre-Existing Condition” as the insurance companies say.

      Reply
  8. jkoko

    2 years ago

    Exactly why Phillies let him walk

    3
    Reply
  9. TampaCF

    2 years ago

    Rays also need a veteran hitter to try to get in Franco’s head as he didn’t run out of ground ball again today

    Reply
    • Bart Harley Jarvis

      2 years ago

      But how were his dance moves?

      1
      Reply
  10. AM21

    2 years ago

    I wish him all the best, but here in Philly we’re very used to this exact thing with him.

    3
    Reply
  11. DannyQ3913

    2 years ago

    Knew this was coming.

    Reply
  12. longines64

    2 years ago

    Talented, knows how to pitch, competitive and will have double knee replacement by the time he’s 50…

    1
    Reply
  13. StPeteStingRays

    2 years ago

    What the Ef?!?

    1
    Reply
    • solaris602

      2 years ago

      Effin’ Eflin!!!!!!!

      Reply
  14. bcjd

    2 years ago

    Why is he wearing a Devil Rays uni? They dropped that name in 2008, and became a competitive team for the first time that year.

    Reply

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