ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays will be without starter Ryan Pepiot for the rest of the year, as manager Kevin Cash said on Friday the right-hander is set to undergo season-ending hip surgery on May 13.
Pepiot has been sidelined since the end of Spring Training due to right hip inflammation. He was placed on the 15-day injured list on March 25, when the Rays set their Opening Day roster, and was transferred to the 60-day IL on April 14.
Dr. Thomas Byrd will perform the procedure in Nashville, Tenn. Pepiot is expected to be ready for Spring Training next year.
Pepiot threw a 25-pitch bullpen session on April 12, then he received an injection in his hip. He said he felt “unstable” playing catch from 60 feet on April 20, but he planned to continue his throwing program, noting that he felt fine doing everything but pitching.
The Rays planned to have Pepiot in their season-opening rotation until the final days of Spring Training, when they recalled Joe Boyle to take his spot. Pepiot was a key part of Tampa Bay’s rotation the previous two seasons, posting a 3.75 ERA in 297 2/3 innings over 57 starts in 2024-25.
With Boyle also injured, they have turned to right-hander Jesse Scholtens to fill a bulk-innings role. Griffin Jax may be an option for that spot moving forward, as he worked 2 1/3 innings as an opener in his last outing on Sunday. Jax is slated to start against the Giants on Saturday at Tropicana Field.