Rays RHP Eovaldi to have elbow surgery

The Tampa Bay Rays have lost a part of their planned four-man rotation indefinitely as right-hander Nathan Eovaldi is set to undergo arthroscopic surgery for loose bodies in his elbow.

Eovaldi, who is looking to come back after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery in August of 2016, was placed on the 10-day disabled list Wednesday along with right-hander Jose De Leon, who had Tommy John surgery earlier this month.

The Rays didn't disclose a timetable for Eovaldi's recovery from the surgery and recalled right-hander Austin Pruitt in a corresponding move.

Eovaldi, 28, was set to open the season as Tampa Bay's No. 3 starter after posting a 3.24 ERA in five starts this spring, with his last outing coming Monday against the Detroit Tigers. He was pitching for the first time since 2016, when he went 9-8 with a 4.76 ERA in 24 games (21 starts) for the New York Yankees before having two surgeries -- one to repair his flexor tendon and the other to replace his damaged ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing elbow.

Eovaldi was scheduled to face the Boston Red Sox on Sunday -- right-hander Jake Faria is expected to be moved up to take his place. Tampa Bay, which had designs on using a four-man rotation of Chris Archer, Blake Snell, Eovaldi and Faria to at least begin the season, had been planning to use a "bullpen day" for Saturday's third game of the season-opening four-game series.

In another roster move announced Wednesday, the Rays released right-handed reliever Daniel Hudson, whom they acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the Corey Dickerson trade. Hudson, 31, allowed nine runs in 5 1/3 innings this spring. The Rays will eat the $4.5 million they owed him this season.

--Field Level Media