Rays Notes Kim Bigge McClanaha Rays Notes Kim Bigge McClanaha

The Rays signed infielder to a back in February but he has yet to play a game for the club after undergoing shoulder surgery late last year. That may be close to changing, however, as reports that Kim is set to be evaluated for a po sible return to the majors after he plays what could be his final rehab game with Triple-A Durham later today. Rays manager suggested that the club is very encouraged by Kims progre s, but president of baseball operations Erik Neander made clear that an immediate return to the majors is not guaranteed. Well get through these next three days and then just get an idea of where hes at, Neander said, as relayed by Topkin. If he needs a little more time, well be there to provide it. If he feels like hes close and ready, then well keep an Kent Bazemore Jersey open mind. Were hopefully closing in on an activation but still kind of day-to-day to see how he responds to the added workload. When he does return, Kim will be joining a resurgent Rays club that has jumped out to a 47-36 record, just half a game back of the Yankees for control of the AL East thanks to a 17-8 run in the month of June. While the team has largely been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks, they have been forced to rely on somewhat middling production out of the shortstop position as and split time at the position. Kim is a 106 wRC+ hitter over the 2022-24 seasons and a Gold Glove caliber defender all over the infield, which should be a substantial upgrade over that duos lackluster hitting while maintaining the quality defense Tampa has gotten from the position. Topkin also writes that right-hander s recovery from surgery to repair multiple facial fractures after he was struck by a 105 mph foul ball off the bat of is going well enough that the Rays do not expect the surgery to interfere with his ability to return this season. Bigge remains on a soft food diet and has not yet been cleared for physical activity amid concerns that it would put stre s on the surgically repaired areas of his face, but hell start playing catch once cleared to do so. Of course, Bigge was already shelved by a lat strain when he was struck by Rutschmans foul ball, so Bigge will have to resume rehabbing that prior injury once hes cleared for physical activity. Prior to those injuries, Bigge was making himself a major part of the Rays bullpen with a 2.40 ERA in 15 innings this year. In other positive news, Topkin notes that southpaw is expected to throw a full-distance bullpen se sion this coming Tuesday. It will be the southpaws first full bullpen since he earlier this month to visit a nerve specialist. The lefty is surely still a ways away from a return given that he hasnt resumed facing live hitters and would need a significant rehab a signment after such a long layoff from big league games, but with the Rays now firmly in postseason contention its not hard to imagine McClanahan taking a big league mound for the club at some point this year. Should McClanahan make it back in time for October, hed form a terrifying one-two punch at the top of the Rays rotation alongside . Kevin Durant Jersey