Rays Pitcher Shane McClanahan Returns After 2-Year Battle

Shane McClanahan felt a wave of gratitude wash over him during a recent car ride home from Spring Training. After two years away from baseball, simply playing catch and hanging out with teammates felt special again.

The Tampa Bay Rays pitcher missed two full seasons after Tommy John surgery in 2023, followed by a nerve injury in his left triceps that shut him down again in 2024. The nerve damage was so severe that he lost all feeling in his left hand fingers and couldn't move them for weeks.

"This entire process has tested me mentally, physically, emotionally," McClanahan said Thursday at the Rays' facility. "I'm glad to kind of turn that corner and have that finish line in sight."

The two-time All-Star described the nerve injury recovery as "weird" compared to the predictable Tommy John timeline. Doctors initially hoped he'd miss only a few weeks, but the injury kept him out all season.

Daily life became a challenge. McClanahan said it took about six weeks before he could even move his middle finger again.

Why This Inspires

McClanahan's journey back taught him lessons that extend beyond the pitcher's mound. He realized he had built his entire identity around being a baseball player, and losing that for two years forced him to find happiness in everyday moments.

"I told myself, 'You can either sit here, be pissy and hate your life, or you can find the positive each day,'" he said. That mindset shift came partly from thinking about what his father would have wanted.

McClanahan became emotional discussing his dad, James "Clancy" McClanahan, who passed away last month. In a heartfelt Instagram post, Shane wrote that his father couldn't wait to see him back on the mound.

Now McClanahan appreciates "the little things" in baseball that he took for granted before. Teammate Drew Rasmussen said McClanahan acts "like a kid at camp right now," rediscovering joy in the game.

The Rays will ease him back carefully, building him up to five innings and 75-80 pitches by Opening Day. He hasn't pitched in a Major League game since August 2, 2023, but he's already thrown about a dozen bullpen sessions.

McClanahan even managed to joke about his progress. "I have a really good appreciation now for knowing where the ball is going," he said. "I'm sure my catchers do, too."

The 28-year-old described himself as "a little bit more professional, a little bit more emotionally put together" after everything he's endured. His changed perspective shone through as he talked about returning to the sport he loves with fresh eyes and a grateful heart.