TORONTO — It’s quite possible that Jon Gray has thrown his last pitch in a Texas Rangers uniform.
The Rangers placed Gray on the 15-day injured list Sunday with right shoulder nerve irritation. Rangers manager Bruce Bochy confirmed later that the veteran right-hander has thoracic outlet syndrome.
“With TOS it’s always a little concerning,” Bochy said. “He’s going to miss some time. You hate to see it happen to Jon with all the time he’s missed and now he’s going back on the IL. I’m sure it’s frustrating for him.”
The injury — which occurs when nerves or blood vessels between compressed between the collarbone and rib bone — is an especially ominous one for pitchers.
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The surgery, if necessary, requires the removal of a rib to help relieve the compression and can take anywhere from multiple months to a year to recover from. The Rangers did not confirm Sunday whether or not Gray will need an operation.
New York Mets right-hander Matt Harvey missed eighth months after surgery in 2017 and Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Chris Archer missed a full year in 2020. Washington Nationals right-hander Stephen Strasburg went under surgery for thoracic outlets syndrome in July of 2021 and pitched just once more — in June of 2022 — before he retired. None of those three recaptured their All-Star form after the operations and Gray, 33, is older than each of those three were at the time of their injuries.
Related:Texas Rangers placed RHP Jon Gray on waivers. Here’s what it means
Surgery is not always necessary. Los Angeles Angels right-hander Sam Bachman was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome in March but avoided surgery and pitched two months later.
Gray, in the fourth year of a $56 million contract, went unclaimed on waivers after Saturday’s 14-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre. He allowed four runs in 2 1/3 innings out of the bullpen that game in relief of left-handed starter Patrick Corbin.
He missed the first half of this season after his hand was fractured by a comebacker during spring training and has a 7.71 ERA in six games pitched exclusively out of the bullpen.
He was the team’s opening day starter in 2022, threw remarkably well out of the bullpen during the club’s World Series run in 2023 and started just 23 games last season after a number of injuries — including a groin strain and right foot neuroma — sidelined him.
The Shawnee, Okla. native has now taken nine trips to the injured list in four season with the Rangers and has a 4.28 ERA in 82 games with the team. The Rangers recalled right-hander Caleb Boushley to take his place on the active roster as part of a flurry of roster movies that included outfielder Sam Haggerty’s assignment to the 10-day injured list with an ankle injury.
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