Rays Anderson Undergoes Surgery
Health troubles had a tremendous impact on Nick Anderson’s 2021 season and unfortunately it will affect 2022 as well. The Rays announced on Thursday that Anderson underwent right elbow surgery on Wednesday.
During the surgery, performed by Dr. Keith Meister in Dallas, Anderson had his UCL repaired with an internal brace procedure. Anderson won’t throw for three to four months and he’s expected to return to game action after the 2022 All-Star break. That internal brace procedure has been used by several players since 2017, including former Tampa Bay lefty Rich Hill.
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Elbow problems cost Anderson most of the 2021 campaign, as he suffered a partial ligament tear during Spring Training last March, had an injection, and then didn’t pitch until September. Anderson eventually made six appearances with Tampa Bay, allowing three runs on four hits over six innings, striking out just one while walking two.
Anderson’s velocity also was down significantly from 2020 (93.0 vs 95.2 in 2020 and 96.1 in 2019) and he was not on the postseason roster. Anderson, acquired from the Marlins at the trading deadline in 2019, has pitched in 48 games with the Rays over parts of the past three seasons. During that time, he’s 5–2 with a 1.85 ERA, and in 43.2 innings has allowed 21 hits and seven walks while striking out 68 batters (14.0 per nine innings).
The now 31-year-old Anderson is eligible for arbitration this season for the first time. He is one of 19 arbitration eligible players for Tampa Bay.
