Ryan Pepiot to Start Opening Day for Rays

Unexpected Honor for Ryan Pepiot

TAMPA — Not the way he envisioned it, but Ryan Pepiot received a call from manager Kevin Cash late Saturday afternoon to inform him that he would be the Rays’ opening day starter, replacing the injured Shane McClanahan.

Deserving of the Honor

The decision was made easier by the way the pitchers were set up, with Pepiot starting an exhibition game against the Yankees to be on regular rest for the opener. Cash also noted that Pepiot was deserving of the honor.

“Pepiot’s body of work was really impressive last year,” Cash said. “When I called him, he said he was honored, even though it wasn’t the way he wanted it. He was being a good teammate. I said, ‘You’ve got to find a way to separate that.’ It is a big honor to pitch on opening day.”

Uncertainty Around McClanahan’s Injury

There is currently no update on the severity of McClanahan’s triceps injury. He is undergoing imaging, and more information is expected after the Yankees game.

Emotional Conversation with McClanahan

Cash spoke to McClanahan on the phone, and the conversation was emotional. “He was, you know, pretty, pretty upset, sad,” Cash said. “I think sad is the best way he described it. He was like, ‘I feel like I’ve done everything I could possibly do to get myself healthy, get myself ready to pitch, and then this happens.’”

Adjustments to the Rotation

With six starting pitchers on the roster, the rotation will revert to a normal five-man rotation. Pepiot is expected to be followed by Taj Bradley, Drew Rasmussen, Shane Baz, and Zack Littell.

McClanahan’s spot on the roster will be filled by reliever Hunter Bigge, who has been called up from Triple-A Durham.

This is a developing story and will be updated later today.

John Romano can be reached at jromano@tampabay.com. Follow @romano_tbtimes.

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Conclusion

Ryan Pepiot’s unexpected opportunity to start on opening day is a testament to his hard work and dedication. The Rays will continue to adjust their roster as they navigate through injuries and replacements.

FAQs

Why was Ryan Pepiot chosen as the opening day starter?

Ryan Pepiot was chosen to start on opening day due to the injury to Shane McClanahan and his impressive performance last year.

What is the status of Shane McClanahan’s injury?

There is currently no update on the severity of Shane McClanahan’s triceps injury. More information is expected after further evaluation.