Tampa Bay Rays LHP Anthony Banda is headed for Tommy John elbow surgery that will keep him out at least until late 2019 if not 2020, given the typical year-plus recovery timeline for the procedure.
Banda joins Jose De Leon and Brent Honeywell on the road to recovery from Tommy John surgery. Both De Leon and Honeywell hope to be ready at some point in the 2019 season. And while it’s not completely out of the question that Banda would be able to join them late next season, the team will likely exercise caution with his rehabilitation.
The 24-year-old southpaw owns a 3.64 ERA with 10.5 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9, and a 38.4% ground ball rate in eight appearances (42 IP) with Triple-A Durham (4-3, 3.64 ERA), and has made three appearances with Tampa Bay, where he went 1-0 with a 3.68 ERA. He was with with Durham most recently, pitching six innings on Thursday.
The move puts another dent in Tampa Bay’s depth, both in the present and future tenses. More immediately, however, the team welcomed Nathan Eovaldi back to the active roster, and Yonny Chirinos has been reinstated from the 10-day disabled list, although he has been optioned to Triple-A despite a solid start in his season in the majors (0-1, 3.71 ERA).
If Chris Archer is placed on the DL after suffering a groin related injury, Chirinos will become the most likely candidate to take his place on the roster.