Athletics visit the Rays to open 4-game series
The Tampa Bay Rays begin a four-game series at home against the Oakland Athletics on MondayAPRIL 11, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
BRENDAN MCKAY PITCHER - NO TEAM
PITCHER - NO TEAM
Rays try to sweep 3-game series over the Orioles
The Tampa Bay Rays play the Baltimore Orioles looking to sweep their three-game seriesAPRIL 10, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rays play the Orioles leading series 1-0
The Tampa Bay Rays take a 1-0 advantage into the latest game of the series against the Baltimore OriolesAPRIL 9, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Goes on 60-day IL Tampa Bay recalled McKay from Triple-A Durham on Thursday and placed him on the 60-day injured list, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact The team didn't provide a specific explanation behind McKay's placement on the IL, but he presumably needs additional time to advance through his throwing program while he works his way back from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery, which he underwent last November. Solondz reported March 17 that McKay considered himself fully healthy at the start of spring training, but he never appeared in any Grapefruit League games before being optioned to the minors. It's unclear if McKay suffered a setback at some point, or if the Rays were merely withholding the lefty from game action as a matter of caution.
APRIL 7, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Rays option 2-way prospect Brendan McKay to minor leagues
Two-way prospect Brendan McKay is among five players the Tampa Bay Rays have optioned to the minor leaguesMARCH 27, 2022 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Optioned to minors McKay was optioned to minor-league camp Sunday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact McKay underwent thoracic outlet surgery in November, though he reported to camp fully healthy. He didn't enter a game with the big-league club in spring training, and he will likely need a significant ramp up period after tallying only 12.2 innings and 25 plate appearances in 2021.
MARCH 27, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Two surgeries later, one-time top pick Brendan McKay is healthy again PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — At this point two years ago, Brendan McKay was a sensation. A two-way player who was the No. 2 prospect in the Rays f...
MARCH 17, 2022 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
In camp and fully healthy McKay (shoulder/illness) arrived at camp Thursday and is considered fully healthy, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact McKay's arrival at camp was delayed due to COVID-19 protocols, and his status was further up in the air thanks to his November thoracic outlet surgery. He reportedly threw multiple bullpens prior to camp, however, so recovery from that procedure seems to be going well. A healthy season could allow the 2017 fourth-overall pick to finally showcase his potential, but it's difficult to count on good health for a player who's thrown a total of just 12.2 innings over the last two years while battling shoulder and elbow issues.
MARCH 17, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Delayed by COVID protocols McKay (shoulder) will be delayed to start camp after failing to passing COVID-19 intake testing, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact It's unclear if McKay tested positive for the virus himself and will miss an extended period, or if he's merely sidelined due to contact tracing. In either case, that's not the only issue he's dealing with, as he underwent thoracic outlet surgery in November and could miss time in camp while recovering.
MARCH 14, 2022 • ROTOWIRE
Undergoes thoracic outlet surgery McKay (elbow) underwent thoracic outlet syndrome decompression surgery on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact McKay pitched in only seven minor-league games during 2021 while dealing with elbow and shoulder injuries, and he's now recovering from a major shoulder/neck procedure. The two-way player will focus his rehab as a pitcher and "is expected to resume throwing no later than early February." If all goes well, McKay could be taking part in mound work early in spring training.
NOVEMBER 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Where are they now: Brendan McKay, Kylee Levers, Paul Grattan McKay is a pitcher in the Tampa Bay Rays organization, Levers stars for Pitt’s volleyball team and Grattan plays football at UCLA.
SEPTEMBER 10, 2021 • POST-GAZETTE.COM
Season likely over McKay is expected to miss the remainder of the season after Double-A Montgomery placed him on its 7-day injured list Monday with a left elbow injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay T...
Impact McKay returned from a shoulder injury in early August and made two appearances for Montgomery for Montgomery before experiencing another arm-related setback. He recently received a platelet-rich plasma injection to address the injury and will be shut down for 2-to-3 weeks, so he's unlikely to have enough time to recover before Montgomery's season ends.
AUGUST 25, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Back in action at Double-A Rays manager Kevin Cash said that McKay (shoulder) felt good coming out his most recent rehab start Friday at Double-A Montgomery, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He wa...
Impact Triple-A Durham reinstated McKay from its 7-day injured list Friday and assigned him to Montgomery, where he'll presumably remain for at least a couple more starts while he builds up his pitch count. McKay has been sidelined for most of the season while recovering from the left shoulder surgery he underwent last August. Even with Tampa Bay's starting depth being tested by the trade of Rich Hill to the Mets and the season-ending elbow injury to Tyler Glasnow, McKay looks a long ways away from warranting consideration for a promotion to the big club.
AUGUST 8, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Perfect in one rehab frame McKay (shoulder) started Tuesday's game for the Rays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate and fired a perfect first inning during which he recorded two strikeouts.
Impact The recovering southpaw marked the restart of his rehab assignment with an encouragingly crisp outing during which he made quick work of the top of the Twins' Complex League affiliate's lineup. Assuming he experiences no residual effects from Tuesday's outing, McKay is likely to be back on the hill at some point during the weekend for a possible bump in workload.
JULY 23, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Baltimore rookie Watkins pitches Orioles to 6-1 win vs Rays
Rookie right-hander Spenser Watkins gave up one run in six innings as the Baltimore Orioles tied a season high with their third consecutive win, 6-1 over the Tampa Bay RaysJULY 20, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Set to resume rehab assignment McKay (shoulder) is scheduled to pitch in a rehab appearance Tuesday for the Rays' rookie-level Florida Complex League affiliate, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact McKay, who is working back from August shoulder surgery, previously began a rehab assignment in the FCL in late June, but he made just one appearance before being shut down after experiencing discomfort. After around three weeks of rest, McKay's shoulder discomfort has apparently subsided, so he'll begin to ramp up again. Expect McKay to make several appearances in the FCL or lower levels of the minors before Triple-A Durham activates him from its 7-day injured list and inserts him into the rotation.
JULY 19, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Lowe hits slam, Rays rally with 2 in 9th to beat Indians 9-8
Brandon Lowe hit his first career grand slam in the second inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied with two runs in the ninth to beat the Cleveland Indians 9-8JULY 6, 2021 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Managing shoulder discomfort McKay dealt with shoulder discomfort during his rehab start Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Impact McKay has been recovering from left shoulder surgery that he underwent last August. The southpaw will be examined in the coming days following his discomfort, but the team is hopeful that the issue isn't serious. During Thursday's rehab start, the southpaw allowed a hit and a walk while striking out one in two scoreless innings.
JULY 5, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Brendan McKay returns to the Mound for the First Time in over 600 Days It's has been a long road to recovery for Tampa Bay Rays prospect Brendan McKay, but McKay took a huge step in his recovery on Tuesday. If y...
JUNE 30, 2021 • RAYSCOLOREDGLASSES.COM
Tosses bullpen session McKay (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Saturday, Adam Berry of MLB.com reports.
Impact McKay had been working at extended spring training recently, but he joined the Rays at Tropicana Field on Saturday for his bullpen session. He'll head to Port Charlotte in the near future to throw a two-inning, 30-pitch bullpen session, and the team is hopeful that the southpaw will be able to build up to 90 pitches after that. McKay continues to recover from left shoulder surgery last August, and it's not yet clear when he could return to game action.
JUNE 26, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Working out an extended spring McKay (shoulder) began a rehab assignment at extended spring training May 26.
Impact After undergoing left shoulder surgery last August, McKay hasn't been cleared to pitch in games, but he was able to see action as a designated hitter for Triple-A Durham earlier this season. He went 2-for-22 in six games for Durham before he was moved to the affiliate's 7-day IL. The move isn't necessary indicative of a setback, as the Rays may have just wanted McKay to turn his focus toward advancing through his rehab program as a pitcher at extended spring training.
JUNE 6, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Sent to minor-league camp The Rays optioned McKay to their minor-league camp Tuesday.
Impact Since McKay wasn't on pace to pitch in any games before the end of spring training, he didn't warrant any serious consideration for the Rays' Opening Day roster. If McKay doesn't hit any snags in his rehab program for the left shoulder surgery he required last August, he could have an outside chance at being ready to pitch when Triple-A Durham begins its season in May. Even if he needs time beyond that to complete his throwing program, McKay could still be available for Durham as a designated hitter, which would allow him to avoid a stint on the minor-league injured list.
MARCH 16, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
McKay focused on hitting and pitching in '21 The only setback two-way player Brendan McKay has experienced in his recovery from left shoulder surgery was more weird than worrying. McKay...
MARCH 9, 2021 • MLB.COM
Mound work coming in late March McKay (shoulder) said Tuesday that he expects to resume throwing off a mound by the end of March, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Impact McKay, who is recovering from August surgery on his left shoulder, said he expects to serve as a designated hitter in the Rays' spring games by the end of the week, but the organization still primarily sees the 25-year-old as a pitcher. For that reason, McKay looks destined to begin the season on the injured list, as he'll likely need multiple weeks to fully ramp up once he's cleared for mound work. Since he still has minor-league options remaining, McKay could head to Triple-A Durham when he's deemed ready to pitch in games.
MARCH 9, 2021 • ROTOWIRE
Notes: McKay hitting at camp; intake issues Rays prospect Brendan McKay reported to Spring Training as a rehabbing pitcher and an active hitter. McKay, the 25-year-old two-way player,...
FEBRUARY 19, 2021 • MLB.COM
