Former Dodgers pitcher Michael Grove has signed a major league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays while recovering from shoulder surgery. He fills the roster spot left by Ryan Pepiot, who was moved to the 60-day injured list.
Feb 15, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Michael Grove (29) throws during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Former Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Michael Grove signed a major league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday.
Grove, who is currently on the 15-day injured list as he recovers from shoulder surgery from March 2025, filled the roster spot left vacant by right-hander Ryan Pepiot, who moved to the 60-day IL.
Pepiot, another former top Dodgers prospect, was sent to the Rays as part of the trade package to acquire Tyler Glasnow.
He has shone with the Rays, having two solid seasons for Tampa Bay after seeing an improved velocity and better strikeout effectiveness.
Feb 15, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Michael Grove (29) throws during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
However, injuries have plagued the young righty, and he will now be on the injured list with right hip inflammation for the next 60 days. He started the season on the 15-day IL, but a move to the 60-day IL marks a more serious shift.
The Rays, in the wake of developments with Pepiot, choose to give Grove a major league day and put him on the 15-day IL as he comes back from shoulder surgery.
Grove was waived by the Dodgers, and he elected free agency, making him available to any team. However, due to his shoulder injury and pitching woes, he has remained a free agent until the Rays decided to take a flier on him.
The Rays, who are one of the highly regarded pitching development teams, are seemingly intent on giving Grove another chance to succeed, as he was a former top prospect who worked with the Dodgers, another team known for its pitching development.
The Dodgers, due to their status as contenders and influx of promising youth, elected to move on from Grove.
Grove pitched for the Dodgers in the majors over three years, from 2022 to 2024, racking up 149.1 innings. He has totaled 1.2 fWAR over his time with the team, along with a 5.48 ERA and a 4.16 expected ERA.
There is some bad luck behind his lackluster production, and he showed some solid stuff and command, but the Dodgersā pipeline has so much right-handed pitching talent that the organization, after his surgery, chose to move on, as did Grove.
Now, he gets to prove the Dodgers wrong in their assessment, and the Rays take a low-risk gamble on a player with potential. For an organization that tends to squeeze production out of these players, Grove should be worth tracking for fans who are still believers in his talent.
Michael Grove signed with the Tampa Bay Rays to fill a roster spot left vacant by Ryan Pepiot, who was placed on the 60-day injured list.
Michael Grove is recovering from shoulder surgery that he underwent in March 2025.
Ryan Pepiot is a former top Dodgers prospect who was moved to the 60-day injured list due to an injury, creating a roster spot for Grove.
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