Thompson (triceps) walked a batter in a scoreless inning of relief Sunday in the Rays' 5-2 loss to the Orioles in Grapefruit League play.
The appearance marked the spring debut for Thompson, who closed the 2022 season on the 60-day injured list with right triceps inflammation. The injury may have prompted the Rays to ease Thompson back into action this spring, but the right-handed reliever looks as though he'll be fully ramped up by the time Opening Day arrives. He was a key piece in the middle-to-late innings for the Rays in 2022, logging a 3.80 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 39:11 K:BB in 42.2 frames while notching three wins, three saves and 10 holds.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Transferred to 60-day IL
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Thompson (right triceps inflammation) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
He was shut down for the season earlier this week, with a stress reaction in his right elbow being reported, so it sounds like the stress reaction is what was causing the triceps inflammation. Thompson will compete for a spot in the bullpen next spring if he is healthy.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Shut down for season
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Thompson (triceps) has been diagnosed with a stress reaction in his right elbow and will be shut down for the rest of the season, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Thompson has been on the injured list since the end of August due to right triceps inflammation, and he recently experienced discomfort in his elbow while throwing. In spite of his shutdown, he's expected to be ready for spring training in 2023. Over 47 relief appearances in 2022, Thompson converted three of eight save chances while picking up 10 holds with a 3.80 ERA and 1.17 WHIP in 42.2 innings.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Out with triceps injury
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The Rays placed Thompson on the 15-day injured list Tuesday with right triceps inflammation, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
A best-case scenario has Thompson returning around the middle of September, although it's unclear how significant his injury is. The sidearm-throwing righty hasn't pitched since Thursday, when he allowed two runs on four hits versus the Angels. Thompson sports a modest 3.80 ERA and 39:11 K:BB this season.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Reinstated by Rays
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Thompson (personal) was reinstated from the restricted list Monday.
Thompson has been relatively effective over his last five appearances, as he's picked up two holds while allowing two unearned runs and striking out seven in 5.1 innings. He'll rejoin the Rays' bullpen in Boston after he was unavailable for the team's five-game set in Toronto.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Heading to restricted list
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Thompson will be placed on the restricted list and won't travel with Tampa Bay for the upcoming five-game series in Toronto, which begins Thursday, due to Canada's vaccination requirement, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Thompson allowed a walk and had two strikeouts over two scoreless innings during Wednesday's 5-3 loss to the Brewers, but he won't be available to face the Blue Jays on the road since he's apparently unvaccinated. The 30-year-old will be able to rejoin the team ahead of Monday's game at Boston.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Picks up third save
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Thompson did not allow a baserunner in a scoreless ninth inning to earn the save Thursday against the Rangers.
Thompson was called upon to protect a two-run lead in the ninth inning and retired the side on just eight pitches to record his third save of the season. He hasn't earned a high-leverage role with his performances of late, as he's allowed 13 earned runs across his last 8.2 innings. Despite those struggles, the Rays continue to rotate pitchers through the closer role, so Thompson could pick up spare saves while Andrew Kittredge (back) remains sidelined.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Can't hold lead
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Thompson allowed an unearned run on one hit and one walk while striking out two across two innings to blow the save Friday against Baltimore.
Thompson entered the game in the 11th inning with a one-run lead. He retired the first two batters he faced but ultimately surrendered an RBI single to Austin Hays. Thompson came back out for the 12th inning and set down the side in order. He could see an uptick in save chances if Andrew Kittredge (back) remains sidelined, though Brooks Raley would likely be first in line. Thompson has a mediocre 4.40 ERA, 1.26 WHIP and 12:5 K:BB across 14.1 innings, though he has tallied two saves and three holds on the campaign.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Picks up save
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Thompson did not allow a baserunner and struck out one across a scoreless ninth inning to record the save Sunday against Boston.
Thompson entered the game with a three-run lead and needed 16 pitches to retire the side in order to record his first save of the season. Andrew Kittredge had served as the team's primary closer to this point in the campaign, though he pitched two innings Saturday and was likely unavailable as a result. While Thompson has delivered 6.1 scoreless innings early on this season, he isn't likely to regularly factor into the saves picture for Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Recalled by Rays
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Thompson was recalled from Triple-A Durham on Monday.
Thompson owns a 3.28 career ERA in 60.1 major-league innings. He'll replace Ryan Yarbrough on the roster after Yarbrough hit the injured list with left groin tightness.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Beginning year in minors
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Thompson was optioned to Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Thompson underwent thoracic outlet surgery in September and started spring slowly, but he's been able to make three Grapefruit League appearances. While he'll miss out on the Opening Day roster, he should get plenty of chances this season as the Rays rotate through their relievers with options.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Faces hitters
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Thompson (shoulder) is scheduled to face hitters in live batting practice Tuesday.
Thompson has yet to make his Grapefruit League debut while he works his way back from the thoracic outlet syndrome surgery he required last September, but he seems to be making positive progress in his recovery. Now that he's advanced to facing hitters, Thompson could be integrated into the Rays' spring pitching schedule within the next few days. Since he's a reliever who won't need to build up his pitch count substantially over what's left of spring training, Thompson could still have a chance to break camp as a member of the Opening Day bullpen, though a brief stint on the injured list to begin the season remains a possibility.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Throws bullpen Wednesday
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Thompson (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Wednesday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Thompson missed the second half of the 2021 campaign due to a shoulder injury that required thoracic outlet surgery at the end of September. Manager Kevin Cash called the right-hander's bullpen "very encouraging," but the team hasn't yet revealed whether Thompson will be ready for Opening Day in 2022.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Set for thoracic outlet surgery
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Thompson (shoulder) will undergo surgery in the near future to address thoracic outlet syndrome, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Thompson was originally shut down in late August while experiencing lingering soreness in his right shoulder, and he was eventually diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome. The 29-year-old is without a specific return timeline but is expected to be ready for spring training.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Slated to visit with doctors
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Thompson (shoulder) will visit with doctors in the coming days to help determine the extent of his injury, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Thompson was shut down in late August since he continued to experience soreness in his shoulder, and he hasn't yet resumed throwing. The right-hander's upcoming examination is expected to determine whether his injury is related to thoracic outlet syndrome, and a better timetable for his return will likely be revealed after he visits with doctors.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Shut down from throwing
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Thompson (shoulder) was recently shut down from throwing due to ongoing soreness in his shoulder, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The right-hander's return from the injured list was pushed back a few days when he was struck by a comebacker in the leg last week, and his return will now be delayed significantly longer. It's unclear how long Thompson will be shut down, but there's a chance it could prevent him from rejoining the Rays before the end of the regular season.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Return timeline pushed back
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The Rays aren't expected to bring Thompson (shoulder) back from the 60-day injured list for at least a few more days after he was struck on the leg by a comebacker in his latest rehab appearance at Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
On the shelf since late June with right shoulder inflammation, Thompson was cleared to begin a rehab assignment in mid-August and has made five appearances between the rookie-level Florida Complex League and Triple-A. Thompson doesn't appear to have suffered a major snag in his recovery program after being struck by the comebacker, but he won't be able to make his next rehab appearance until Thursday while he heals up from the minor injury. With that in mind, Thompson may have to wait until the first full week of September before rejoining the big club.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Back on mound in Durham
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Thompson (shoulder) fired a scoreless eighth inning in Triple-A Durham's loss to Jacksonville on Sunday, allowing a hit and a walk while recording a strikeout.
Thompson had reported feeling some shoulder tightness after his rehab appearance Wednesday, but he returned to the mound Friday with a scoreless inning before repeating the feat Sunday. The right-hander has now logged four rehab outings overall with the Bulls, and assuming he remains free of setbacks, he could be ready for activation from the 60-day IL when first eligible Friday.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Residual fatigue after rehab
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Thompson (shoulder) felt "Ok, not great" following his rehab appearance with Triple-A Durham on Wednesday, the Associated Press reports.
The description of Thompson's condition a day after his sharp seven-pitch outing came from manager Kevin Cash himself. The right-handed reliever can't be activated for another week anyhow, so Thompson should have additional opportunities to build up his stamina and could always stay on the injured list for a bit longer if necessary.
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Rays' Ryan Thompson: Logs another bullpen session
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Thompson (shoulder) completed a 25-pitch bullpen session Tuesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Thompson has now completed two side sessions in the last three days without incident, a sign that he could be ready to take the next step forward in his rehab. After being moved to the 60-day injured list earlier this month, Thompson won't be eligible to rejoin the Tampa Bay bullpen until the final week of August at the earliest.
