The Tampa Bay Rays are working to get ace starter Blake Snell ready for Opening Day.
Snell missed much of the latter half of the 2019 season after undergoing a procedure to remove loose bodies from his elbow, and he is still dealing with some of the aftermath of that procedure. The left-hander got a cortisone shot that he said was precautionary, but admitted he was not certain he’d be ready for Opening Day.
#Rays Snell said he isn’t concerned about his left elbow and decided to take the cortisone shot more as a precaution.
— Juan Toribio (@juanctoribio) March 1, 2020
#Rays Snell said he’s optimistic shot will alleviate soreness in his elbow and is still hopeful of starting season on time but doesn’t know for sure
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 1, 2020
The 2018 AL Cy Young winner hasn’t really been able to replicate that campaign due to his elbow issues. While he clearly doesn’t believe this is serious, it won’t make anyone feel great that this is still an issue so long after his surgery, which took place last July.
Snell ended up making 23 starts last year with a 4.29 ERA. He’s capable of much better, and he’ll be strongly hoping he can get healthy so he can get back to top form.
