Rays reinstate versatile INF Williamson, DFA veteran Fraley

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays’ infield has been made whole again, as Tampa Bay reinstated the versatile and valuable Ben Williamson from the injured list before Sunday’s series finale against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field.

To make room for Williamson’s return, the club made the difficult decision to designate veteran outfielder Jake Fraley for assignment. Fraley returned from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, but he would have been hard-pressed to carve out a role on the team’s postseason roster due to the emergence of fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder Victor Mesa Jr.

Williamson’s role is much clearer, though, as it will be the same one he played before going down with a right hamstring strain on Aug. 6. The right-handed-hitting infielder will platoon with hot-hitting Richie Palacios at second base and back up Taylor Walls at shortstop, giving Tampa Bay a sure-handed option up the middle.

He immediately returned to the lineup for Sunday’s regular-season home finale against Boston, starting at second base and batting sixth.

Williamson has hit .247/.309/.332 with three homers, 26 RBIs and 1.1 wins above replacement in 84 games for the Rays this season. He started a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and played three games, making one start at second, one at shortstop and one as the designated hitter.

Fraley, who had been sidelined by a hernia since May 17, batted .216/.289/.364 with two homers and five RBIs in 31 games for Tampa Bay.

In designating Fraley, the Rays made the decision to keep infielder Jorge Mateo, who was acquired to fill Williamson’s role. Mateo could serve as a pinch-runner or backup infielder moving forward.