49 Brendan McKay SP

McKay (shoulder) underwent surgery Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McKay has been sidelined with a left shoulder issue for several weeks, but the team was optimistic that he'd be able to return by spring training in 2021. However, the surgery revealed that he had a labrum issue, which puts his status for the start of spring training in doubt. His status for the beginning of spring training will hinge on how he recovers over the offseason, and it's unclear whether he'll be available once Opening Day rolls around in 2021.

McKay (shoulder) will undergo season-ending surgery Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McKay was shut down at the alternate training site with left shoulder irritation, and the injury was more serious than initially anticipated. Although he'll miss the remainder of the 2020 season, the Rays are hopeful that he could be ready for the start of spring training in 2021. The 24-year-old has faced a series of disappointing setbacks this year after pitching in the majors for the first time in 2019, posting a 5.14 ERA and 56:16 K:BB over 49 innings in 13 appearances (11 starts).

Manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that McKay is dealing with shoulder irritation and is being shut down for 7-to-10 days, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

McKay missed the entirety of camp after testing positive for COVID-19 and was working on building up his workload at the alternate training site. He threw a two-inning simulated game Wednesday, but he's since been shut down with shoulder irritation. It's unclear when he'll be able to return to the majors after his most recent setback.

McKay (illness) threw two innings in a simulated game Wednesday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McKay is slowly building up his workload after a positive COVID-19 test wiped out his entire summer camp. While this is an encouraging step for the lefty, the Rays have yet to offer up a timetable for his return.

McKay (illness) came out of his live batting practice session healthy but will need some time before being ready for game action, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

McKay only just started throwing Saturday after missing the entire preseason buildup period following a positive coronavirus test. It's still not exactly clear when the Rays expect him to join the active roster, but manager Kevin Cash made it sound as though that wouldn't be happening any time soon.

McKay has been cleared to return after a positive COVID-19 test wiped out his entire summer camp, and he began throwing at the Rays' alternate training site Saturday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

It hadn't been previously revealed that McKay's absence was due to COVID-19, though it followed the same pattern as several other players who had tested positive. He threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Saturday, so it's likely still quite some time before he's built up to a starter's workload, though the creative Rays could use him in other ways before he's ready to pitch deep into games. It's not yet clear when he's expected to be activated.

The Rays assigned McKay (undisclosed) to their alternate training site Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McKay has been missing from summer camp for the past two and a half weeks, with the Rays having yet to provide any details behind his explanation. Since he was optioned to Triple-A Durham on March 26, McKay isn't eligible for the injured list and will instead report directly to the team's alternate training site once he's deemed available.

McKay (undisclosed) has not been seen in camp since July 6, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

Yonny Chirinos (undisclosed) was spotted for the first time Sunday, so McKay is likely behind in the competition for the Rays' final rotation spot. Trevor Richards, who is stretched out enough to log five innings, could open the year as the team's de facto fifth starter, but they will likely limit their non-elite starters to turning the opposing lineup over no more than twice.

McKay has not been present for the Rays' last four days of summer camp workouts for undisclosed reasons, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

McKay is one of three Rays pitchers -- rotation members Tyler Glasnow and Yonny Chirinos notably being the other two -- that have not been present for multiple days, although in the case of the latter duo, they haven't been seen at all since camp began. McKay would presumably be in a position to make a case to fill in for one of his two teammates were he present, but he remains without a timetable for a return since the Rays are not at liberty to discuss what players are or aren't participating. The 24-year-old McKay was attending workouts at Tropicana Field before summer camp began, so despite his current inactivity, he did work out his arm regularly during the shutdown.

McKay was one of several Rays pitchers to throw off a bullpen mound at Tropicana Field on Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

McKay threw 15-25 pitches to a pair of bullpen catchers in what was his first opportunity to use a mound since workouts resumed May 25, and both he and his fellow hurlers received accolades from pitching coach Kyle Snyder for the quality of their sessions. The young left-hander had been optioned to Triple-A Durham back on March 26, but the likelihood of expanded rosters and rotations during any potential 2020 season that might unfold likely means McKay will see big-league action.

The Rays optioned McKay to Triple-A Durham on Thursday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

McKay was one of seven players optioned from big-league camp Thursday as the Rays reduced their contingent to 28 men, leaving the team with two cuts to make before Opening Day. The 24-year-old lefty remains one of the organization's top pitching prospects, but an uneven MLB debut season in 2019 along with a poor spring prevented him from beating out Yonny Chirinos for the fifth starter's role. McKay should get another trial in the Tampa Bay rotation at some point later in 2020.

McKay started a Grapefruit League loss to the Phillies on Thursday and allowed four earned runs on four hits, a walk and a hit batsman over 1.1 innings. He struck out two.

The talented southpaw endured a rough go of it, with the majority of his problems coming in the second inning. Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports there were signs things were amiss during a scoreless first, however, when McKay struggled with his control. He then allowed four consecutive hits with one out in the second, including a pair of solo home runs to No. 8 and 9 hitters Josh Harrison and Roman Quinn. Despite the unsightly final line, McKay attempted to focus on the positives. "Body and arm felt good," McKay said. "The results you're obviously frustrated with, (but) a bunch of guys said don't really hang yourself on results. It's all about how your body feels and how you're progressing."

McKay will make his first Grapefruit League start against the Phillies on Thursday, Zachary Silver of MLB.com reports.

McKay was slowed by shoulder soreness early in spring, but he was able to make his first Grapefruit League appearance out of the bullpen Friday versus the Twins. The left-hander is vying to secure a back-end rotation spot, and he should get at least three starts to make his case prior to the end of spring training.

McKay (shoulder) fired a scoreless fourth inning in his spring debut in a loss to the Twins on Friday. He struck out one.

McKay made his long-awaited debut with success, even ringing up Josh Donaldson for his one punchout. Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports McKay hit 94 mph on the called third strike and reported feeling good overall after the appearance, one in which he threw 10 of 16 pitches for strikes and utilized the changeup he's been working on this spring.

McKay (shoulder) felt good following his bullpen session Tuesday and will pitch Friday against the Twins, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

McKay is ready to move forward with his spring debut after being initially delayed by shoulder stiffness. Whether or not he still has time to be fully built up as a starter by Opening Day remains to be seen, but the Rays are creative enough that they could use him in other ways for the first week or two of the season if necessary.

McKay's spring debut won't be set until after the Rays see how his sore left shoulder responds to Tuesday's bullpen session, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

Reports from earlier in the day held that McKay would debut Friday, but those were evidently slightly premature. The young lefty came to camp complaining of shoulder stiffness, though the issue doesn't appear to be too serious. Still, time is getting tight for him to be built up to a starting workload by Opening Day. Given the Rays' famous creativity with their pitching staff, it wouldn't be surprising if McKay worked as a bulk reliever for his first outings if he's able to pitch but not fully ready to start.

McKay (shoulder) is slated to make his spring debut on the mound in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Twins, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

After McKay's left shoulder responded well to facing hitters in a live batting practice session over the weekend, he'll get the green light to resume pitching in a non-controlled setting. The time McKay has already missed could make it a challenge for him to get his arm fully conditioned for Opening Day, but he would likely be in store for only a brief stint on the injured list if the Rays determine he's not ready for the start of the season.

Manager Kevin Cash said Monday that McKay (shoulder) could return to game action this week after his live batting practice went well Saturday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.

McKay has been dealing with shoulder stiffness for most of spring training, but he's been able to ease back into throwing activities and could be on track to make his 2020 debut in the Grapefruit League in the near future. The southpaw is reportedly "champing at the bit" to return to game action, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the Rays use some caution in order to prevent a more serious injury.

McKay (shoulder) threw approximately 25 pitches in a live batting practice session Saturday, Juan Toribio of MLB.com reports.

McKay has been working through shoulder stiffness, but he was able to get in his first batting practice session of spring as planned Saturday. The southpaw threw to Michael Brosseau and Miles Mastrobuoni during the session, and McKay was very satisfied with both how his arm felt and the progress he made with his changeup, which he's been focusing on refining. "I threw a lot of really good changeups, which I'm kind of happy about," McKay said. "I've been on the search for that over the last couple of years. I've had glimpses of it, but to throw it that consistently to righties and some lefties, it's only building that confidence that you can throw it whenever you need to and it can be a dominant pitch."

McKay (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session Saturday, Josh Tolentino of The Athletic reports.

McKay has been limited during spring training as he deals with shoulder stiffness, but he was able to throw a bullpen last Sunday and will throw a live bullpen session Saturday. The issue doesn't appear to be too severe, and he's likely on track to progress to game action if his recovery continues to go smoothly.