Nick Bitsko Likely To Have Surgery
4 years agoTampa Bay Rays pitching prospect Nick Bitsko (shoulder), the team's first-round pick this year, is likely to have surgery soon to relieve discomfort in his right shoulder. The severity of the injury won't be known until after the procedure. The 18-year-old was taken 24th overall by the Rays out of high school, but the hard-throwing righty was committed to the University of Virginia. Bitsko features a high-90s fastball and has plenty of upside because of already high spin rates on his pitches. Even before the injury, though, he was the type of arm that required plenty of time to develop. And the Rays have always been patient with high-upside arms of Bitsko's caliber, so depending on how much damage they find in his arm, he could be looking at a longer developmental timetable in the minor leagues.
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin
Source: Tampa Bay Times - Marc Topkin