Tampa Bay Rays Pitcher Done For Season After Collision

It was originally called a right knee sprain, but now the Tampa Bay Rays have revealed that reliever Garrett Cleavinger actually has an anterior cruciate ligament injury, and his 2023 season is likely done.

#Rays Cleavinger has an ACL injury in his right knee and is likely out for the season
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 8, 2023

The fourth-year left-hander has been a solid contributor to the Rays bullpen since being acquired last season from the Los Angeles Dodgers at the trade deadline. Cleavinger has a 3.00 ERA this year and has held batters to a .146 average. He was even better in his 13-game stint last season when he posted a 2.41 ERA in 18.1 innings, while holding the opposition to a .125 batting mark.

The @RaysBaseball get the out in the rundown, but Garrett Cleavinger has to leave the game with an apparent injury. pic.twitter.com/Omarcg3NEl
— Bally Sports Sun: Rays (@BallyRays) May 7, 2023

The injury occurred on Sunday when he was involved in a messy rundown trying to tag out a New York Yankees runner coming home. The lefty spent several minutes down on the turf after suffering a hit to his knee.

It's a tough break for the 29-year-old, who had found himself a home in Tampa Bay after bouncing around from the Philadelphia Phillies to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the two years before his arrival.

Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports