ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – The final homestand of 2023 had its share of ups and downs for the Rays. Sure, they clinched the first wild-card spot and home field advantage in the best-of-three round. In the larger picture, injuries continue to pile up and a bullpen that had been spectacular for much of the past month sprung some leaks.
Yandy Diaz was the latest to be bit by the injury bug when he was pulled from Sunday’s 9-5 loss to Toronto after two innings due to right hamstring tightness. Following his lead-off single in the first, Diaz received a visit from a trainer and manager Kevin Cash. He remained in the game and batted in the second inning (fly out) before being removed.
Diaz is hitting .328, good for second in the American League behind the Rangers’ Corey Seager.
In the news: Rays Close Regular Season Home Schedule With Weekend Series Against Toronto
“Way more precautionary in getting him out of the game than needing to come out,” said Cash, whose team heads into the final week of the season 2.5 games behind the Orioles in the American League East.
Randy Arozarena was held out of Saturday’s and Sunday’s games after his right quad tightened up on him while running the bases Friday night. The hope is that he returns to action during a two-game series at Boston that gets underway Tuesday night.
“He was actually chomping at the bit to get into the game (Saturday), so very encouraged by that,” said Cash, prior to Sunday’s game.
Brandon Lowe (right patella fracture), Luke Raley (cervical strain) and Jason Adam (left oblique strain) were placed on the injured list during the homestand. Lowe’s season is likely over given his four-to-six-week prognosis. Adam had just come off the IL and was removed after facing three batters Friday night.
Robert Stephenson, superb out of the bullpen since being acquired from the Pirates in June, has been dealing with neck soreness and is day-to-day.
The result of the latest rash of injuries is a roster that gets younger and younger. Junior Caminero, a 20-year-old infielder who rocketed up the prospect rankings (No. 5 Baseball America, No. 6 MLB Pipeline) this season, made his debut Saturday and picked up his first hit. He drove in his first run when he singled home Harold Ramirez in the first inning Sunday.
In the news: The Rock Stops Here: 4X Super Bowl Champ Bucs Sr Offensive Consultant Tom Moore
“You have a bunch of young players in here that can jolt us with some energy and we can finish up good,” said Cash. “There is a lot to be excited about with this club that we have done just a tremendous job with being resilient. We will be as tested as ever now with some of the guys we are losing.”
At 20 years and 80 days, Caminero became the second-youngest player to appear in a Tampa Bay uniform. B.J. Upton was 19 years and 347 days when he made his MLB debut in 2004.
“It’s not something that we normally do, but we have been a little banged up here,” said Cash, of pressing such a young prospect into service. “He’s done enough to have a lot of encouragement from the front office that, let’s get him up here, let’s get him acclimated. It’s very likely he is going on the roster this offseason anyway, so made it for kind of an easy decision and hopefully the right decision.”
Isaac Paredes has been going in the right direction all season. He hit his 30th home run this season and is five RBI shy of the century mark.
“That awesome, congrats to him,” said Cash. “We have talked a lot about Yandy’s season and Paredes is in line with him.”
The Rays, who finished the home schedule 53-28, will have Zach Eflin on the mound Tuesday night against the Red Sox.
Attendance: With Sunday’s announced crowd of 22,472, the Rays attendance for 81 home dates was 1,440,301 for an average of 17,781. The team ranks 27th in MLB and ahead of Kansas City, Miami and Oakland.
Award Winners: The Tampa Bay chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America voted Yandy Diaz (Don Zimmer MVP), Zach Eflin (Paul C. Smith Champion Award) and Kevin Kelly (Outstanding Rookie) as 2023 award recipients. Eflin, in his first season with the team, was recognized as the player who “best exemplifies the spirit of true professionalism on and off the field.”
Android Users, Click To Download The Free Press App And Never Miss A Story. Follow Us On Facebook and Twitter. Signup for our free newsletter.
We can’t do this without your help; visit our GiveSendGo page and donate any dollar amount; every penny helps