ST. PETERSBURG -- Looking for something to break their way amid the toughest stretch of their season so far, the Rays got back a big part of their outfield on Friday.
The Rays reinstated outfielder Jonny DeLuca from the 10-day injured list prior to Friday night’s series opener against the Nationals at Tropicana Field and put him right back in the lineup, starting in right field and batting third against left-handed opener PJ Poulin.
“Obviously, that feels nice,” DeLuca said. “Wherever I am in the lineup, I don't think it changes what I'm trying to do. Just happy to be back and playing.”
To make room for DeLuca’s return from the IL, the Rays designated outfielder Austin Slater for assignment. Slater played well for Tampa Bay, going 6-for-22 with three walks and three stolen bases, but he would have been redundant with DeLuca as a fellow right-handed-hitting outfielder capable of playing all three spots.
DeLuca had been out since May 24 due to a strained right hamstring, which he sustained while running out an infield single at Yankee Stadium on May 22. He recovered quicker than initially anticipated, allowing him to join Triple-A Durham for a four-game rehab assignment over the past week.
DeLuca went 4-for-11 with a double, an RBI, three runs, four walks and two strikeouts while starting two games in both center and right field, and that successful return to the field gave DeLuca confidence that he was ready to go.
“It's always good to get ABs and kind of get back in the swing of things, no pun intended,” he said. “You can't really emulate playing a baseball game if you're not actually playing a baseball game, so it's just good to be down there and get some games in.
“We did all the testing necessary, so … I don't think there's too much more I could do to test it out, whether it's running down the line or running for balls in the outfield, whatever it is. We did the work, and yeah, it feels good. So, hopefully it stays that way.”
Granted, there have been a lot of factors in the Rays’ recent skid. But losing DeLuca and right fielder Jake Fraley around the same time tested Tampa Bay’s outfield, and coincidentally, the Rays entered Friday with a 7-15 record since DeLuca went down.
“Very happy. I think you look at Jonny and Jake Fraley's injuries, and we've missed both of them,” manager Kevin Cash said. “We miss all the guys that get hurt, but Jonny and the way we've kind of played -- to get him back, I think it's nice to have him in the mix, whether it's in right field, center field, and get him swinging the bat.”
DeLuca was hitting .269/.298/.412 with two homers, 11 doubles, 19 RBIs and six steals in 41 games before he was injured. Always regarded as an athletic defender in the outfield, he has taken another step forward this season by improving his jumps under outfield coach Corey Dickerson.
DeLuca can play all three spots in the outfield, with most of his work coming in right and center. The Rays have been using Ryan Vilade, Victor Mesa Jr. and Slater in right field. Cedric Mullins has started all but three games in center since DeLuca’s injury, with Chandler Simpson sliding over from left to back him up on Mullins’ rare days off.