Rays to activate Longoria tomorrow

ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- The Tampa Bay Rays will activate three-time All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria from the disabled list for tomorrow’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays.  To make room on the active roster, infielder Will Rhymes was optioned to Triple-A Durham.

Longoria, 26, sustained a partially torn left hamstring on April 30 in a home game against the Seattle Mariners.  He was placed on the 15-day disabled list the following day and was transferred to the 60-day DL on July 24.  In his most recent rehabilitation assignment with Durham he played in eight games as designated hitter, batting .200 (5-for-25) with three RBI, seven walks and a .382 on-base percentage.

Prior to the injury, Longoria had started all 23 of the Rays games this season at third base. He hit .329 (27-for-82) with four home runs, 19 RBI, seven doubles, a .433 on-base percentage and .561 slugging percentage.  The Rays were 15-8 in those 23 games, but are 41-44 since he was sidelined.  In 2011 he led the club in home runs (31), RBI (99) and walks (80) despite missing 26 games within the first month of the season.

Rhymes, 29, has hit .228 (28-for-123) in 47 games over two stints with the Rays this season.