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Robbie Ray likely to miss start of ‘24 due to Tommy John surgery

The Seattle Mariners have announced that left-hander Robbie Ray had Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, including the flexor tendon repair that was previously expected. Ray had already been ruled out of games for the rest of the 2023 season, but the extra procedure meant that he will probably miss the beginning of ‘24 too.

Dr Keith Meister, the director of sports medicine at Arlington-based Texas Metroplex Institute for Sports Medicine and the Rangers’ team physician, did both procedures.

Scott Servais the Mariners’ manager said that Ray needing the surgery to reconstruct his UCL was in line with his expectations.

“Obviously, he’s got a long road ahead of him,” Servais said. “The rehab and those situations can be challenging, but if anybody’s going to come through strong, it’ll be Robbie Ray.”

Ray injured his throwing arm in his first start of 2023 and was put on the 15-day injured list the next day. It was decided that Ray would need season-ending surgery to fix a left flexor strain after a consultation on April 224, although the Tommy John surgery was not mentioned to the public up to that point.

“He was in good spirits, as good as can be when you go through something like that,” said Servais, who FaceTimed with Ray ahead of Wednesday’s game in Oakland. “Hopefully he’ll come back stronger than ever.”

Robbie Ray will rehabilitate at the Mariners’ Spring Training facility in Peoria, Ariz. Tommy John surgery needs a recovery period of 12 to 18 months, which means he will not be ready at the start of Spring Training in 2024.

“He’s a key guy in our clubhouse,” Servais said. “Not just what he does on the mound on the day he pitches, but what he adds. We’re going to miss him. … He’s got to do what’s best for him and his family and his arm to get it back healthy and get going again.”

Ray entered the second season of a five-year, $115 million contract, which has an opt-out after the 2024 season. It should also be noted that Ray’s deal with Seattle does not have any protection for the team in the case of Tommy John surgery. When Luis Castillo was extended with the Mariners after signing Ray, they added a unique club option that would be activated if Castillo needed UCL reconstruction.

Robbie Ray’s absence will have long-term ramifications for the Mariner’s rotation, especially for top pitching prospect Bryce Miller. Miller stunned in his debut on Tuesday in Oakland and can hold the forte for the No.5 starter role, but he will prove he can handle his business in the Majors with Ray out longer than previously expected.

The Mariners’ farm system has a number of rising arms who could enter the big league rotation picture, including Emerson Hancock (the club’s No.4 prospect per MLB Pipeline), Bryan Woo (No.6) and Prelander Berroa (No.14) at Double-A Arkansas and Taylor Dollard (No.9) at Triple-A Tacoma.