The ninth inning just got a lot shakier for the Tampa Bay Rays.
According to a report by Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times on Friday, Rays closer Brad Boxberger will be sidelined for the next eight weeks after undergoing core muscle surgery.
#Rays Boxberger had surgery to repair core muscle, will miss 8 weeks, Cash said
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) March 18, 2016
The 27-year-old Boxberger recorded an AL-leading 41 saves in 47 opportunities for Tampa Bay last season with a 3.71 ERA and 74 strikeouts.
With Opening Day a little over two weeks away, the Rays could be looking at the first two months or so of the regular season without the services of their All-Star closer. After a quiet offseason following an 80-82 campaign in 2015 (fourth in the AL East), it will be all hands on deck for Tampa Bay if they even want to approach decency in 2016.
Though the Rays have yet to name a ninth-inning fill-in, Alex Colome, Xavier Cedeno and the newly-signed Danny Farquhar should all be in the mix for closing opportunities while Boxberger recovers.
Image Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
H/T Rotoworld
