The Rays announced that they have signed right-hander Michael Grove to a big league deal and placed him on the 15-day injured list. He is still recovering from last year’s shoulder surgery. To open a 40-man spot for him, right-hander Ryan Pepiot was transferred to the 60-day IL. Marc Topkin of The Tampa Bay Times reported the moves prior to the official announcement.
It’s unclear what’s going on with Pepiot but this appears to represent at least a minor setback. He started the season on the 15-day IL due to inflammation in his right hip. As of April 4th, he was throwing bullpen sessions and reinstatement was expected right around now. This move to the 60-day injured list means he can’t be came off the IL until late May.
With Pepiot out, the Tampa rotation has consisted of Shane McClanahan, Drew Rasmussen, Steven Matz, Nick Martinez and Joe Boyle. They lost Boyle to the injured list a few days ago due to a right elbow strain. Jesse Scholtens was recalled and will take the ball tomorrow. Whether he sticks around or that’s just a spot start remains to be seen. The Rays also have Joe Rock on optional assignment while Yoendrys Gómez is pitching multiple innings out of the big league bullpen. Prospect Brody Hopkins is in Triple-A but has walked 20.3% of batters faced this year.
Getting Pepiot back into that mix would have helped but it doesn’t appear that’s happening anytime soon. More information will likely be revealed about his status shortly but the Rays will have to proceed without him for at least another six weeks or so.
The one benefit to Pepiot being delayed is that it effectively opened up a 40-man roster spot, which the Rays have used to scoop up Grove. As mentioned, he is recovering from shoulder surgery, which he underwent in March of last year.
A second-round pick from 2018, Grove had some intriguing results in the upper minors and the majors, around injuries. From 2022 to 2024, he logged 100 2/3 innings on the farm with a 3.40 earned run average. His 29.4% strikeout rate and 7.2% walk rate were both strong figures.
He also threw 149 1/3 major league innings in that span. The 5.48 ERA in the big leagues doesn’t look nice but there’s more encouragement when looking under the hood. His 23.2% strikeout rate, 6.9% walk rate and 41.3% ground ball rate were actually decent numbers. His .325 batting average on balls in play and 63.9% strand rate were both to the unfortunate side. His 4.35 FIP and 3.85 SIERA felt he would have fared better if his luck were more neutral.
Grove spent 2025 on the injured list and crossed three years of major league service time. He would have been eligible for arbitration for 2026 but would not have earned a big raise after missing a full season. MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz projected him for $800K, a bit above this year’s $780K minimum. The Dodgers outrighted him off the roster at season’s end, effectively an early non-tender.
For the Rays, Grove is a wild card after a lengthy absence due to that surgery. If he can get healthy, his service time count is at three years and 31 days. He is therefore controllable for this season and at least two more. He also has an option remaining. That means the Rays could shuttle him between Triple-A and the majors. If he spent a notable amount of time on optional assignment, he might not get to four years of service this year, which would delay his path to free agency.
That would be a secondary concern. Before that could be something worth thinking about, he’ll need to get his shoulder right and then start posting good results. His current recovery timeline isn’t clear.
Photo courtesy of Joe Camporeale, Imagn Images
former dodger replacing former dodger
just ruining baseball
@Michael….But where’s the CatMan?
Gonsolin? According to BR, he is a free agent, maybe he’s retired, if so got 3 rings for barely playing. Not bad.
Orange groves, as far as the eye could see.
SoCal, in the early 1900s
Florida orange harvests have been decreasing for years due to citrus greening disease and development. Florida’s Natural is now from concentrate, using orange juice concentrate from Mexico. This year is the worst yield since 1930.
Florida’s main industry seems to have shifted to white trash rappers.
I was quoting the naked gun
Oh Pep…
Pepiot is the latest victim of Tommy John due to the Rays preaching max spin rate. If ownership would get bigger name free agents, maybe they could get away with guys who don’t spin the ball so much! McClanahan, Rasmussen, Springs, Glasnow, and now Pepiot. How many pitchers arms will they ruin?
Fire Kyle Snyder and Kevin Cash!
Put some money into the team, ownership!!!!
At this point, maybe they should do their annual reunion with Erasmo Ramirez.
Yeah, like they’re the only team ravaged by rotation injuries. Just look up and down the main page to read about the Padres and Astros, who are both worse off than Tampa in the pitching department right now.
Karen – Pep is on IL for hip inflammation, not an elbow strain.
@mp2 I can’t comment on Karen’s assertion, but hip movement/rotation has an effect on pitching and a compensatory effect on other areas. Pushing for greater spin rate can affect the hips.
That’s all well and good, but Pep isn’t having TJS because of hip inflammation.
Fair enough but we don’t know if it’s actually his hip. The article said it’s not known but his prior injury was his hip.
“It’s unclear what’s going on with Pepiot but this appears to represent at least a minor setback. He started the season on the 15-day IL due to inflammation in his right hip.”
Rays fans have been following the Pep story since ST. There’s been no mention of any injury other than Hip inflammation in any of the other articles I’ve read or in any interviews Manager Cash has given. There’s no reason to think this injury is elbow related in any way, shape or form.
Tommy John’s hips don’t lie
“Michael Grove- woaho Michael Grove” — brother Dobbie.
Dobbie got a sock, so he’s doing fine.