Matt Moore Injury: Updates on Rays SP's Status, Recovery After Being Hit by Ball

Updates from Monday, March 24

Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times and Roger Mooney of The Tampa Tribune provide a synopsis of Matt Cobb's interaction with Matt Moore:

Original Text

For the second time in less than a week, a Major League Baseball pitcher got struck in the face by a line drive hit back through the box. Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Matt Moore was the victim on Sunday, though he certainly appears to be in much better shape than Aroldis Chapman.     

Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal noted that Moore was moving around under his own power in the Tampa Bay dugout. 

Roger Mooney of The Tampa Tribune later provided Moore's official status:

The Rays have put a lot of faith in Moore, though the results have been mostly mixed. He signed a five-year contract in December 2011, similar to the kind of deal Evan Longoria got as a rookie, and has made 58 starts the last two years. 

Unfortunately, Moore's control problems have gotten worse. He walked 81 in 177.1 innings two years ago, then issued 76 free passes in 150.1 innings last season. His ability to miss bats (318 strikeouts since 2012), allows him to get away with some of the mistakes. 

The Rays still have pitching depth to withstand an injury if Moore were to miss time, though that depth has taken a hit already this spring with Jeremy Hellickson having elbow surgery in February that will keep him out until at least mid-May. 

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