Rays’ Shane McClanahan near end of elbow rehab with big plans for 2025

ST. PETERSBURG — Shane McClanahan is feeling like himself again.

Which is to say good physically and refreshed mentally as he nears completion of his rehab from August 2023 Tommy John elbow surgery and heads into a “completely normal offseason” in advance of spring training.

He’s also quite confident.

“I want to win a lot of games next year, (throw) a lot of innings, (have a) lot of strikeouts, no walks…” McClanahan said Thursday. “And help this team win a lot of baseball games. I’m really excited to get back.”

The two-time All-Star has one more step in his rehab, throwing live batting practice next Thursday in Port Charlotte. It will be his first time facing hitters since his last game outing Aug. 2, 2023 at Yankee Stadium.

“I’ve been talking a lot of smack to people in here and telling them to get ready for spring training. And I hope they’re ready,” McClanahan said. “It’s awesome. As a competitor, you miss it. So, it’s going to be nice to take that competitive side out instead of just in the weight room, running or my daily rehab.

“So, I’m excited. I’ve been looking for this for a while.”

The 27-year-old lefty said he felt back to normal shortly after he began to throw off the mound in early August.

“It’s easier to throw down the slope,” McClanahan said. “So, it started really kind of clicking, and I really felt like I haven’t missed anything. So, I’m excited.”

The Rays will be, too, if he is anywhere close to his past form. He went 33-16 with a 3.02 ERA in 74 starts from 2021-23, with 456 strikeouts in 404⅔ innings.

McClanahan is eager for the chance to show it.

“I miss it. “Miss it to death,” he said. “And I think these guys will attest for that, how much I … moan about not playing.”

Catching on

Christopher Morel had a little help in making a runs-saving, leaping catch at the leftfield wall on Wednesday — he was using a glove from smooth-fielding teammate Jose Siri. Noting Siri has made several plays like that, Morel said the leather provided a boost: “I feel like I have Siri power.” Morel had played either second base or been used as the designated hitter since being acquired from the Cubs in July, but the Rays want to take a look at him in the outfield as they consider options for 2025.

Not-so-minor matters

Double-A Montgomery lost 5-1 to Biloxi (Brewers) Thursday, setting up a decisive Game 3 in the Southern League divisional playoffs on Friday, with the winner advancing to the championship series against the winner of the Birmingham (White Sox)-Tennessee (Cubs) matchup. … High A Bowling Green beat Hudson Valley (Yankees) 4-1 Wednesday to win the South Atlantic League championship for the third time in the last four years. Jackson Baumeister, acquired from Baltimore in the Zach Eflin trade, worked 5⅔ innings for the win.

Miscellany

Lefty Tyler Alexander will start Friday against the Blue Jays as the Rays will eschew using an opener. … Jose Caballero tabled his American League-leading 44th base and has been successful on 12 of his past 13 attempts. Wednesday, he table third for a team-record 13th time this season. … With Edwin Uceta and Garrett Cleavinger getting the final six outs, the Rays posted their 14th one-hit shutout in franchise history. They allowed just 10 hits for the series, their second fewest ever in a three-game set. … Junior Caminero was not in the lineup Thursday, his first day off since his Aug. 13 call-up. … Brandon Lowe tied Hall of Famer Fred McGriff for seventh place on the team RBI list with 359. … Lefty Ryan Yarbrough, who spent parts of 2018-22 with the Rays, will be back at the Trop on Friday. He signed with the Royals for 2023, was traded to the Dodgers that August, then was dealt to the Jays this past July 30 — for former Rays teammate Kevin Kiermaier.

• • •

Sign up for the Sports Today newsletter to get daily updates on the Bucs, Rays, Lightning and college football across Florida.

Never miss out on the latest with your favorite Tampa Bay sports teams. Follow our coverage on Instagram, X and Facebook.