Tampa Bay’s heartbeat just found its rhythm again. With the $7.5M ace, returns after a year of rumors, workouts, and what-ifs. Manager Kevin Cash finally delivered the news that the club, the supporters, had been anticipating as spring training got underway. After a month of discussion on whether the star player still possesses the speed and skill that earned him an All-Star selection, the Rays kept fans and experts on edge by being silent and declining to confirm anything.
Once the backbone of Tampa Bay’s rotation, the left-handed standout is eventually scheduled to start Opening Day for the 2025 season. Following a rigorous recuperation from Tommy John surgery, which had many wondering if he would ever regain his dominant form, Shane McClanahan has allayed those fears. The Tampa Bay Rays selected Shane McClanahan as 31st overall in the 2018 Major League Baseball draft, and his path to MLB fame officially began.
In a recent conversation with MLB, Kevin Cash answered positively: “It does give confidence, when you look at the brightest part of the spring training so far is watching Shane McClanhan get off the mound.” “He is built up now with 3 or 4 innings; he is healthy. So, have that type of frontline ace, whatever you wanna call, to hand him the ball for opening day.”
“Our season ended early and I think the guys didn’t like it. They wanted to play in that month of October.”
Manager Kevin Cash and the @RaysBaseball are ready to bounce back in 2025 @SageUSAmerica | @TMobile pic.twitter.com/J3h0BqVVXT
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) March 9, 2025
He advanced through the minor leagues swiftly, displaying his impressive pitching abilities. In 2020, he made his major league debut in the American League Division Series against the Yankees, making history as the first pitcher to make a postseason appearance. Shane McClanahan had a 10-6 record in 2021, his rookie season, with a 3.43 ERA and 141 strikeouts in 123.1 innings pitched. His reputation as a top pitcher was cemented in 2022 during his sophomore year.
Ending the season with a 12–8 record, an impressive 2.54 ERA, and 194 strikeouts in 166.1 innings, he was selected as the Rays’ Opening Day starter and earned a spot in the All-Star Game. Now, the question is: Can Shane McClanahan reclaim his dominant form on the mound, and will his return propel the Rays back to the top?
Shane McClanahan’s role in the 2025 redemption:
Tampa Bay’s hopes rest on Shane McClanahan’s arm—can he lead them back to the top? The franchise had mainly depended on their depth of pitchers in recent seasons, but injuries in 2024 halted their progress. Now that McClanahan is back as the ace, the Rays want to reestablish themselves in the highly competitive AL East and reconstruct their strong starting rotation.
No. 18 is among the most successful left-handed starters in baseball. He had a stellar 26.7% strikeout rate and a lifetime 3.02 ERA over 404.2 innings before his accident. Shane McClanahan was a nightmare for opposing batters because of his ability to produce swings and misses with a fastball that moved quickly and a nasty curveball. The Rays will have a real difference-maker at the top of their rotation who can stop even the most potent offenses if he can get back to that level of play.
Shane is looking to make the comeback. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been on the mound — felt like riding a bike. I thought my pitches were working good. Now, we get into that routine and get ready for Opening Day.” “It was all hugs, all smiles,” he further added, noting, “I’m thankful for all the support I’ve gotten, from Tampa to here. It’s not taken lightly. Whoever latched on, I thank you. It’s been a rough year and a half.”
The path to redemption won’t be simple, though. Tampa Bay must carefully monitor Shane McClanahan’s workload to make sure he doesn’t put in too much work too fast. According to reports, the team plans to limit his innings early in the season to gradually increase his total as they prepare for a possible postseason run. The Rays might become one of the league’s most dangerous teams once more if McClanahan can recover his dominance, though, and his return would be crucial to their 2025 comeback.
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