While the Tampa Bay Rays are off to a good start, they have gone through some injury concerns in their bullpens so far this season. On Monday, reliever Mason Englert was put on the injured list due to right forearm tightness. Then there’s Edwin Uceta. Uceta, who has pitched well for Tampa Bay in 2024 and 2025, totaling 100 games and even won ten games for the Rays in 2025, has not yet pitched in the regular season due to a shoulder impingement. While on his way back from the injury, Uceta would suffer a setback.
Rays’ Reliever Edwin Uceta Shut Down for 2-3 Weeks
Rays manager Kevin Cash spoke to reporters before their 6-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday and announced that Uceta was diagnosed with a subscapularis strain in his throwing shoulder and will be out of action for another 2-3 weeks as he recovers from the injury.
#Rays reliever Edwin Uceta has a new shoulder issue, a strain to the subscapularis muscle, which is different from the spring training right shoulder inflammation. Kevin Cash said he will be shut down from throwing for 2-3 weeks and then built up again. It’s looking like…
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) April 20, 2026
As per MLB.TV Rays Sideline reporter Ryan Bass states, Uceta could be back by May, or June at the latest. Uceta was on track to return this week to help the Rays’ bullpen after four rehab appearances, but the setback will now push that timetable back by a month or two. Uceta notched a 1.70 ERA for the Rays in 2024 and pitched 41 2/3 innings. In 225, Uceta pitched to a 3.70 ERA in 70 games with 103 strikeouts.
Uceta was expected to be a big help for the Rays’ bullpen again this season, but that will now have to wait. Uceta’s injury and setback add to the laundry list of injuries for Tampa Bay’s bullpen. Uceta and Englert join a batch that includes Manuel Rodriguez, who is out for the majority of the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, and Steven Wilson. Wilson is recovering from a lumbar disc inflammation.
As a team, the Rays bullpen sits at 5.84, the third-worst in MLB, only behind the Chicago White Sox (5.89) and the Kansas City Royals (6.75). Despite the loss on Monday, the Rays are 12-10 through their first 22 games of the year, but with the injuries piling up, they’ll need to hold on for a bit longer until some help in the bullpen comes.
Main Photo Credits: Rafael Suanes-Imagn Images
