DeLuca (hamstring) 'likely' headed to IL after exiting vs. Yankees

NEW YORK -- Nothing seems to be slowing down the red-hot Rays these days, but they are now dealing with another key injury in their outfield as Jonny DeLuca exited Friday night’s series opener against the Yankees with a right hamstring injury.

DeLuca is “likely” headed to the injured list, manager Kevin Cash said after the Rays’ 4-2 win at Yankee Stadium. DeLuca also acknowledged that he will miss time but hoped it would be a quick absence.

"It’s just a bummer,” DeLuca said.

DeLuca felt his hamstring grab while legging out an infield single on a grounder hit to shortstop José Caballero in the seventh inning. He immediately told first-base coach Corey Dickerson about the issue, but held out hope it would loosen up.

“It was about probably halfway down the line. I looked to see when Cabby dove for it and thought he got it, so I tried to turn on the jets a little bit,” DeLuca said. “Right then, it just kind of grabbed.”

When Cedric Mullins hit a double and DeLuca had to trot from first to third, though, it was clear the pain had not subsided. Cash quickly emerged from the dugout to check on the athletic outfielder, and DeLuca exited the game after a quick conversation at third base.

“I was kind of hoping something would change, but going second to third, yeah, there was just no point to keep on running,” he said.

He was replaced by Ryan Vilade, who was stranded at third after Nick Fortes and Taylor Walls struck out, but the Rays came roaring back with a four-run eighth to pull off their fifth straight victory.

If DeLuca does wind up on the injured list, the Rays could recall outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. from Triple-A Durham. Mesa has a spot on the 40-man roster and rejoined Durham on Wednesday after spending nearly a month on the injured list. Mesa left Durham’s game on Friday night shortly after DeLuca was injured.

The Rays are already playing without a big part of their outfield mix, as left-handed-hitting right fielder Jake Fraley will be sidelined for at least another month following surgery to repair a hernia. Outfield prospect Jacob Melton isn’t an option at the moment, either, as he’s on the injured list for Triple-A Durham with a sprained left ankle.

Vilade can play the outfield, although he’s also been used at first base this season. The Rays have talked about having Richie Palacios get some work in right, although he’s currently needed at second base with Ben Williamson on the injured list due to a low back strain. The recently acquired Oliver Dunn is an infielder by trade, but he also has some experience in the outfield.

After being limited to 20 games due to injuries last season, DeLuca was off to a nice start for the Rays, batting .269 with a .710 OPS while playing quality defense around the outfield. He saved a run in the third inning of Friday’s game, connecting with Fortes to cut down Trent Grisham at the plate on a single by Ben Rice.

“Heck of a play,” Cash said. “I mean, he got a great jump on the ball, got all of his momentum behind the throw and put it right there so Forty could handle it.”