Rays reliever Brad Boxberger will miss the next four to eight weeks due to a strained left oblique, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. He notes the Rays will have a better idea as to exactly how much time he’ll miss within the first week.
Boxberger, 28, suffered the injury on Tuesday, his 2016 debut. He underwent core muscle surgery back in March and he began a minor league rehab assignment on May 15.
It’s a big loss for the Rays, as Boxberger led the league with 41 saves last season. Alex Colome, however, has been terrific in the closer’s role with Boxberger out. Colome has 12 saves with a 1.23 ERA and a 29/4 K/BB ratio in 22 innings.