ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot could return to the rotation late this week after being hospitalized last month for a knee infection that is believed to the result of a spider bite during the All-Star break.
Pepiot was admitted to Columbia University Medical Center in New York and received antibiotics in his right knee after being placed on the 15-day injured list on July 19.
Pepiot had some bug bites while playing golf during the break, but make the trip for a series at the New York Yankees.
The swelling in his knee reached a point where he needed help to walk into the hospital.
"The first couple days, like, when I went into the hospital, it was real bad," Pepiot said before Monday night's game with Houston. “I couldn't put any weight on my right leg. The first few days it was pretty swollen, a lot of fluid, and it was kind of slushy.”
Pepiot said the swelling is down, which allowed him to get back on the mound.
A 26-year-old right-hander, Pepiot is 6-5 with a 3.92 ERA in 17 starts. He was acquired from the Dodgers in December as part of the trade that sent right-hander Tyler Glasnow to Los Angeles.
Pepiot last pitched for the Rays on July 14, throwing six innings of two-hit ball in a 2-0 win over Cleveland. He started for Double-A Montgomery on Saturday, and rejoined the team Sunday to continue working out.
He will be adjusting his golfing attire, forgoing shorts.
“I’ll be wearing pants whenever I, like, do something outside,” Pepiot said. “When I play golf, I get the scenic view of the golf course."
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Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Ryan Pepiot warms up before a baseball game against the Houston Astros Monday, Aug. 12, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. Pepiot has on the injured list with a leg infection. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
MUNICH (AP) — Thomas Müller will end his “incredible journey” with Bayern Munich this summer after 25 years at his boyhood club but says he wasn’t ready to leave.
The 35-year-old midfielder, whose contract is set to expire after the season, made the announcement Saturday in a joint statement with Bayern.
On Instagram, Müller wrote that he respected Bayern’s decision not to offer him a new contract for next season “even if this did not reflect my personal wishes.”
Müller has helped Bayern win a record 12 Bundesliga titles and two Champions League crowns — 33 trophies in total, the team said. But his playing time has been limited recently.
“It’s clear that today is not like any other day for me,” Müller said. “My 25 years as an FC Bayern Munich player will come to an end in the summer. It’s been an incredible journey, shaped by unique experiences, great encounters and unforgettable triumphs.”
Müller made his Bayern debut under Jürgen Klinsmann in 2008 and his breakthrough came under Louis van Gaal the following season. He joined the club’s academy at age 10 in the summer of 2000.
He’s scored 247 goals and has made a club-record number of appearances with 743 matches but his game time has dwindled.
Müller has played in 36 games in all competitions this season, most recently in Bayern’s 3-1 win over Augsburg on Friday. However, he only started 12 of those games and has often come off the bench only in the final minutes.
"I feel immense gratitude and joy that I got to make this career with my beloved club,” Müller said in a club statement. “The special connection to the club and our fantastic fans will always remain. What I want as a farewell should be clear: titles we can celebrate together, and moments we’ll remember fondly for a long time.”
He didn’t mention retirement, leaving open the possibility he could represent another club for the first time since he left his local club TSV Pähl for Bayern a quarter of a century ago.
There could be more titles to come. Bayern leads the Bundesliga and faces Inter Milan in the Champions League quarterfinals. The final will be played at Bayern’s home stadium.
“We’re going to give our all in the coming weeks to bring the league title back to Munich and reach our coveted ‘Finale Dahoam’ (final at home). Let’s do it together!”
The team said Müller’s final game with Bayern will be at the FIFA Club World Cup in the United States in June and July.
“Thomas Müller is the definition of a Bavarian fairytale career; he grew in Bavaria and with Bayern,” club president Herbert Hainer said. “Nobody has won more Bundesliga titles, and 33 trophies in total so far speak volumes. He ranks among the most outstanding personalities in FC Bayern history.”
add he retired from German national team last year after 131 games, and link this
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FILE - Bayern's Thomas Mueller, left, and Leroy Sane celebrate after a goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Augsburg and Bayern Munich in Augsburg, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, file)
FILE - Bayern Munich's Thomas Mueller celebrates winning the German championship after the German Bundesliga soccer match between 1.FC Cologne and FC Bayern Munich in Cologne, Germany, Saturday, May 27, 2023. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, file)
FILE - Bayern's Thomas Mueller holds the trophy after winning the Bundesliga title after the German Bundesliga soccer match between Bayern Munich and FC Augsburg at the Allianz Arena stadium in Munich, Germany, Saturday, May 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, file)
Bayern's Thomas Mueller, left, Harry Kane, center, and Kim Min-jae celebrate after a goal during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Augsburg and Bayern Munich in Augsburg, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Bayern's Thomas Mueller reacts during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Augsburg and Bayern Munich in Augsburg, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
Bayern's Thomas Mueller celebrate after the German Bundesliga soccer match between Augsburg and Bayern Munich in Augsburg, Friday, April 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader)
