During a year where so much has gone well for the Tampa Bay Rays, they suffered a devastating blow to their long-term pitching depth on Saturday following a season-ending injury to starting pitcher Brent Honeywell.
According to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Honeywell suffered a fractured bone in his elbow on Saturday during a bullpen session and will now miss the remainder of the season.
Honeywell, who is ranked the No. 25 overall prospect in baseball by MLB Pipeline, was in the midst of recovery from Tommy John Surgery. The 24-year-old underwent TJS in February 2018 and had just returned to the mound this season in a rehab capacity.
Tampa Bay shutdown Honeywell twice, once in April and again in May, with renewed soreness in his right elbow. After being diagnosed with nerve irritation in the pitching elbow in late May, Honeywell just recently began throwing again.
According to the report, doctors will re-examine the stability of Honeywell’s ulnar collateral ligament during the surgery and determine if anything needs to be done.
Once counted upon as a high-end pitcher who could contribute in Tampa Bay’s rotation this season, Honeywell’s chances of even pitching in the majors during the 2020 season are now in doubt.