Tampa Bay Rays Starter Having Season-Ending Surgery

The Tampa Bay Rays have lost a pitcher they had hoped would play a big role in their starting rotation this season. They've learned on Friday that right-hander Ryan Pepiot is done for the year as he'll be undergoing season-ending hip surgery.

BREAKING: #Rays Pepiot out for season, having hip surgery
— Marc Topkin (@TBTimes_Rays) May 1, 2026

In spring training, what was thought to be a minor injury has turned into a very major one. He came down with a sore hip after pitching early in spring. Pepiot complained of having "instability" in his legs last week, and the new diagnosis explains why.

An update on #Rays Ryan Pepiot after talking to him today. Why a once-perceived minor issue has become a major problem for the 2025 Opening Day starter, and when he could be back 👇🏻 pic.twitter.com/eeEWUNQodE
— Ryan Bass (@Ry_Bass) April 22, 2026

His right hip inflammation turned into a 60-day IL stay for Pepiot by the time the season started. A report stated that there was some instability in his legs when he landed on the mound, which of course makes it difficult to execute his pitches.

He saw a hip specialist in mid-April, while Pepiot himself called the injury "a weird one," and hoped to be back in May.

Now it'll be 2027 before he can pitch in the majors again.

Pepiot had two solid seasons for the Rays after coming over from the LA Dodgers, posting ERAs of 3.60 in 26 starts in 2024, and 3.86 in 31 starts last season.

The 28-year-old will try to work his way back in time for next spring.