MLB Weekly Digest July 29th Edition: Rays Lose Snell Until September

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The previous week in MLB was about a team in the American League losing a key member of their starting rotation until September, an outfielder who underwent surgery, and a former All-Star shortstop has decided to retire.

Tampa Bay Rays Starting Pitcher Blake Snell Will Undergo Elbow Surgery, Expects to Return in 2019

Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Blake Snell will undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove a loose body in his elbow, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times.

BREAKING: #Rays Snell to undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove loose body in elbow. Not considered season ending, expected back in Sept. First reported by @TheAthleticMLB

— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) July 25, 2019

The team expects Snell to return in September.

This marks the second time Snell will be on the injured list in 2019 after he suffered a toe injury in April.

The left-hander had struggled for much of the 2019 season but was showing signs of regaining his Cy Young form from last season.

He has compiled a 4.28 ERA in 101 innings pitched (20 starts) with 136 strikeouts, 35 walks surrendered, 14 home runs yielded, a 3.40 FIP and 1.24 WHIP.

The injury is a big blow to Snell and the Rays.

I mentioned earlier Snell was pitching better as he allowed three runs in his previous three starts. He ended June with a 4.87 ERA, so he was starting to figure things out.

The Rays losing Snell for at least September is monumental as the team is fighting for a playoff spot.

They’re eight-and-a-half games back of the New York Yankees in the AL East but are a half-game back of the second Wild Card spot in the American League.

The Rays are hopeful to have their ace back in September as they’ll be making a push to make the playoffs.

Texas Rangers Outfielder Joey Gallo Expected to Miss Four Weeks After Undergoing Wrist Surgery

The Texas Rangers will be without outfielder Joey Gallo for at least one month as he underwent surgery to remove a fractured hook of the hamate bone in his right wrist, per an announcement by John Blake, the Rangers’ executive vice president of communications.

OF Joey Gallo has been placed on the 10-day IL retroactive to July 24. He had surgery this afternoon to remove a fractured hook of hamate bone in his right wrist. He is expected to miss a minimum of 4 weeks. OF Willie Calhoun recalled from Nashville.

— John Blake (@RangerBlake) July 25, 2019

Gallo was removed from a game last week against the Seattle Mariners after he felt discomfort in his right wrist while swinging a bat.

The injury to Gallo is crushing as was having a productive 2019 season for the Rangers.

The outfielder who was selected as an AL All-Star this year posted a .253 batting average and .986 OPS in 70 games with 15 doubles, 22 home runs, 49 RBIs and 54 runs scored.

The Rangers don’t have a timeframe on when they expect Gallo to return.

Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson underwent similar surgery in March and returned to the A’s in early May.

Gallo would probably return to the Rangers during the last month of the season.

The critical thing for Gallo is to get healthy as the Rangers are currently fourth in the AL West and chances of making the playoffs aren’t great.

Shortstop Troy Tulowitzki Announces Retirement

Troy Tulowitzki has announced his retirement from baseball a couple of days ago, per Lindsey Adler of The Athletic.

https://twitter.com/lindseyadler/status/1154491022333927424

He played 13 seasons in the majors with the Colorado Rockies, Toronto Blue Jays, and New York Yankees.

He was traded by the Rockies to the Blue Jays in 2015 and helped the Blue Jays win a division title later that season.

The career for Tulowitzki was hampered by injuries, especially with the Blue Jays, appearing in just 238 games through three seasons.

He was released by the Blue Jays this past December, and the Yankees signed him to a one-year contract a month later.

He made the club out of spring training but appeared in only five games during the regular season after suffering a calf injury during the first month of the season.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tulowitzki helped “set the tone” for the Yankees during spring training and his impact was greater than just the five games he played, per Brendan Kuty of NJ.com.

Aaron Boone said Troy Tulowitzki helped "set the tone" for the #Yankees this spring, said he still texts w/ some of the players. Tulo's impact was greater than just the five games he played, Boone said: https://t.co/EO2N3Jvx5A

— Brendan Kuty 🧟‍♂️ (@BrendanKutyNJ) July 25, 2019

The shortstop was selected as an All-Star five times, won the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger Awards twice, per FOX Sports: MLB.

5x All-Star
2x Gold Glove
2x Silver Slugger

Troy Tulowitzki officially retires from MLB after a 13 year career 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/M7RrPzQrTR

— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) July 25, 2019

He is one of two MLB players ever (Babe Ruth, 1927) to have 15 or more home runs and 40-plus RBIs in a single September/October, per MLB Stats.

Enjoy retirement, Tulo!

Troy Tulowitzki is one of two players ever (Babe Ruth, 1927) to have 15+ HR & 40+ RBI in a single September/October. pic.twitter.com/GwnR4s7HXO

— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) July 25, 2019

He had six seasons with at least 20 home runs and a .290 average. The only other shortstops in history to have as many seasons are Alex Rodriguez (7) and Nomar Garciaparra (6), per Stats By Stats.

Troy Tulowitzki has announced his retirement.

He recorded six seasons with at least 20 home runs and a .290+ average. The only other shortstops in history to have as many seasons are Alex Rodriguez (7) and Nomar Garciaparra (6). pic.twitter.com/hPMlSMsOgr

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) July 25, 2019

Tulowitzki ranks in the all-time top 10 among Rockies players in batting average, on-base percentage, OPS, games played, home runs, RBIs and total bases.

The infielder ends his career with a .290 average and .856 OPS in 1,291 games with 264 doubles, 24 triples, 225 home runs, 780 RBIs and 1,391 hits.

Tulowitzki when healthy was among the best all-around shortstops as he was a terrific hitter and played phenomenal defense.

He has joined the Texas Longhorns’ baseball team as a volunteer coach following his retirement, per Danny Davis of the Austin American-Statesman.

Join us next week for another look into MLB.

About Post Author

Chris Lacey

Chris is a New Jersey native whose favorite sports team is the Arizona Diamondbacks. He previously attended Western New England College to study Sports Management. Chris has been following the Diamondbacks since he was 12. You can find him on Twitter at @aecanada12.

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