Erik Neander, President of Baseball Operations for the Tampa Bay Rays, joined TKras on *The Drive* with some tough breaking news — pitcher Ryan Pepiot will miss the entire 2026 season after undergoing hip surgery.
Neander walks us through how a situation that started as minor hip inflammation during spring training quickly escalated into a season-ending issue, and what the setback means for Pepiot’s recovery and long-term outlook.
We also dive into the ripple effect on the Rays’ rotation. With Pepiot out, how does Tampa Bay adjust? Who steps into a bigger role, and does this change the team’s approach as the season unfolds?
It’s an inside look at a major blow to the Rays’ pitching staff and how the front office plans to navigate it moving forward.