TAMPA —Shane McClanahan could be in line to rejoin the Rays rotation as soon as late July, baseball operations president Erik Neander told MLB Network Radio.

McClanahan, 28, is back to full strength and throwing regularly in his return from a triceps nerve issue that has sidelined him since late in spring training.

McClanahan threw off the mound at a slightly shortened distance Tuesday. If he feels good on Friday, he will throw his first normal bullpen session.

The two-time All-Star will have to work through a progression of mound sessions, then live batting practice and a series of rehab games likely starting in late June.

“Where does that lead?” Neander said. “I think just building out if all goes as planned from this point, probably somewhere in late July or early August, fingers crossed and crossed and crossed. But he’s doing well and finally into his formal throwing progression at this point.”

McClanahan hasn’t pitched in a regular season game since Aug. 2, 2023, sustaining an elbow injury that led to his second career Tommy John surgery. He rehabbed during the 2024 season, entered spring training healthy and pitched well until the nerve issue surfaced in his final start.

In news on other injured Rays:

• Outfielder Jonny DeLuca will be shut down from baseball activities for three more weeks after a second setback in his recovery from the right shoulder strain that has sidelined him since early April.

• Reliever Hunter Bigge is over the soreness from the right lat strain that landed him on the injured list in early May but remains shut down from throwing for now.

• Infielder Ha-Seong Kim is continuing his rehab assignment as he recovers from right shoulder surgery. He went 2-for-16 in his first five games as the DH and playing second base. His first appearance at shortstop is set for this week.

• Infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios, who played only one mid-April game after returning from a broken right ring finger and then spraining his right knee, is “doing well” and “continuing to make progress” in drills, including baserunning and defense.

A wet celebrationRight-hander Zack Littell threw the first complete game by a Rays pitcher in nearly four years Saturday in Houston.Right-hander Zack Littell threw the first complete game by a Rays pitcher in nearly four years Saturday in Houston. [ ERIC CHRISTIAN SMITH | AP ]

How did Zack Littell’s teammates celebrate his complete game Saturday, the first by a Rays pitcher in nearly four years?

Stuffed into a laundry cart for a shower of beer and other liquids, typically the plan for a first win or first save.

“That was fun; you don’t get to do many anymore,” Littell said. “It was cold. It’s nice being a little older. I can tell people, ‘If you throw ketchup on me, we’re going to fight,’ which is good.”

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Explore all your optionsRainy days and Wednesdays, Thursdays …

Rain is forecast to be an issue for much of this week’s homestand, but manager Kevin Cash and several players said there isn’t much they can do except be ready to play whenever the conditions are right. “I don’t think we can plan anything other than show up to the ballpark ready to play and then let MLB and people within stadium ops to handle some of those decisions,” Cash said.

Miscellany

Former Rays star Evan Longoria on Wednesday will be inducted into the Sports Club of Tampa Bay Hall of Fame as part of a class that includes Lightning coach Jon Cooper, ESPN broadcaster Dick Vitale and sports commission head Rob Higgins. Longoria will be honored again before Saturday’s game, as he officially retires as a Ray. … Reliever Pete Fairbanks has organized an event to be held at Saturday’s game to raise money and awareness for Turner syndrome, with merchandise available and an auction of baseball memorabilia going live that day. …Radio broadcaster Andy Freed will recite Lou Gehrig’s retirement speech in a pregame presentation Wednesday in partnership with the ALS Foundation. … Right-hander Kumar Rocker is expected to start Wednesday for the Rangers.

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