ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier has been diagnosed with a torn ligament in his right thumb and has been placed on the 10-day disabled list. The injury will require surgery, which will be scheduled in the coming days.
Kiermaier sustained the injury sliding into second base in the first inning of yesterday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The diagnosis came this morning after he underwent an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
Kiermaier, who turns 28 on Sunday, is a two-time Rawlings Gold Glove Award winner (2015, 2016) and 2015 American League Platinum Glove Award recipient. He is one of eight players with double-digit home runs and stolen bases in each of the last three seasons, and one of three AL outfielders to do that along with Mookie Betts (Boston Red Sox) and Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels).
To take his place on the active roster, the Rays recalled right-handed pitcher Chih-Wei Hu from Triple-A Durham. Hu, 24, went 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA (10-IP, 3-ER) in six relief appearances with the Rays last season as a rookie. He has made two starts for Durham this season.