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In December 2023, the Los Angeles Dodgers completed a blockbuster trade with the Tampa Bay Rays to acquire ace pitcher, Tyler Glasnow. The 6′ 8” righty has since become one of the key arms in the Dodgers’ dominant starting rotation.

Within the trade for Glasnow, the Dodgers sent no. 6 prospect and right-handed pitcher, Ryan Pepiot, to the Rays along with outfielder Jonny DeLuca.

While only having played in eight games with the Dodgers in 2023, Pepiot made three starts and posted a 2.14 ERA for the season.

Now that Pepiot is in Tampa Bay, the 28-year-old found himself a permanent starting role in the Rays’ rotation. However, Pepiot has yet to take the mound in 2026.

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Former Dodgers Pitching Prospect Ryan Pepiot Scheduled to Undergo Season-Ending Hip Surgery

On Friday, May 1, Tampa Bay Rays reporter Marc Topkin reported that RHP Ryan Pepiot is undergoing a season-ending hip surgery.

Rays’ sideline reporter Ryan Bass added to the story saying the surgery is scheduled for May 13 with Dr. Thomas Byrd–a sports medicine physician and orthopedic hip surgeon–in Nashville.

“Pepiot will undergo right hip surgery on May 13 with Dr. Thomas Byrd in Nashville, Tennessee,” Bass wrote on X. “Kevin Cash said he anticipates Pepiot will be available for Spring Training in 2027.”

Pepiot had a healthy Spring Training, posting a 0.90 ERA in three starts and ten innings. But ahead of Opening Day, the righty had inflammation in his right hip that sent him to the 15-day IL.

On April 4, Pepiot threw a bullpen session and was expected to make his way off the IL the following week. Ten days later, Pepiot was added to the 60-day IL with little detail as to why.

Pepiot’s absence will hurt the Rays starting rotation. In 2024, he made 26 starts and 31 last season. Between the two seasons, Pepiot pitched 297 2.3 innings with a 3.75 earned run average, 25.4% strikeout rate and 8.9% walk rate.

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Tampa Bay Rays, Los Angeles Dodgers Connection

The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in the 2020 World Series, marking the start of a dynasty in LA. On that 2020 Rays team, were two now Dodgers pitchers.

Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow.

The Dodgers acquired Glasnow at the end of 2023 via a trade, and signed Snell to a five-year, $182 million contract in November 2024.

Since then, the Dodgers and Rays have created a pipeline for players involved in both franchises.

Aside from Jonny DeLuca and Ryan Pepiot who were traded to the Rays for Glasnow, the Rays recently signed former Dodgers pitching prospect Michael Grove. The Rays also acquired catcher Hunter Feduccia–who made his MLB debut with the Dodgers in 2024–via a three-team trade.

On the Dodgers’ side of things, recently DFA’d pitcher Anthony Banda was a Ray in 2018-2020 before making his way to LA. Long-time Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier joined the Dodgers in 2024 for his final MLB season. Amed Rosario was also picked up by the Rays in 2024 before getting cut.

What’s the biggest difference between the Rays who became Dodgers versus the Dodgers who became Rays?

World Series rings.

All five former Rays collected at least one World Series ring during their stint with the Dodgers.