Rays Waiting To Get Injured Players Back On Field

The Tampa Bay Rays have eight players on their major league disabled list. The 60-day disabled list includes catcher Wilson Ramos (right knee, ACL surgery), Shawn Tolleson (elbow strain), Kevin Gadea (elbow strain), Nathan Eovaldi (elbow UCL surgery). The 10-day disabled list includes Matt Duffy (heel), Colby Rasmus (hip), and Brad Boxberger (elbow).

Down on the Farm:

The minor league 7-day disabled list includes two players from the club’s 40-man roster, Jose De Leon (elbow) and Jaime Schultz (groin).

After returning from the World Baseball Classic, Jose De Leon felt soreness in his elbow and was shut down for a few days. The pain has subsided and he’ll finish his requisite spring training schedule in extended spring training in Port Charlotte. The extended spring will also help help the Rays’ control his innings throughout the 2017 season.

Jaime Schultz, who was electric this spring and is expected to give the Rays’ ‘pen a boost in 2017, gave the organization and its fan a scare of Friday night. He threw his 27th pitch of the appearance and immediately grimaced in pain.

Catcher Mike Marjama, expecting much more velocity on the pitch, visited the mound along with the team trainer. Schultz walked off the mound with his face in the glove and left many expecting the worst. Of course, the thought was…..”oh boy, another elbow injury.’ Fortunately for Schultz and the Rays the injury is a groin injury (severity unknown).

MLB Update:

While Ramos, Tolleson, and Gadea should be ready to return in June, Nathan Eovaldi is out for the season.

Colby Rasmus began his minor league rehab on Thursday in Port Charlotte. He was banged up a bit in a collision and missed his scheduled rehab game on Saturday evening.

According to Bryan Levine of Suncoast Sports Now, the first batter of the game sent a fly ball into left center field. Rasmus collided with centerfielder Ryan Boldt, but neither player appeared to be hurt, as Boldt caught the fly ball.

“Those kinds of things are going to happen,” (It) woke me up early,” Rasmus told Levine after the game. “We ran into each other, so no telling what I’m going to wake up in the morning feeling like, but as of now I’m feeling good.”

On Saturday he was at Tropicana Field to continue working out, telling Bill Chastain of MLB.com, “I feel OK, I just feel like I ran into somebody. … I’m going to try and be smart about it.” His status is considered day-to-day and he should return to the Rays at some point in mid-April.

After experiencing elbow soreness up while resuming throwing after a lat strain issue, Brad Boxberger has resumed throwing. The Rays hope for a return to the team sometime i May.

Matt Duffy continues to make strides in his return from off-season heel surgery. He’s resumed baseball activities and looks to begin a running program in the coming days. If he can run full speed without pain, he’ll ramp up the baseball activities. The Rays still hope to have him return by mid-May.