Return of DeJesus among September additions

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays' first round of September callups filtered into the home clubhouse at Tropicana Field on Sunday morning.

With Major League rosters expanding from 25 to 40 players on Monday, Tampa Bay will call up catcher Curt Casali from Class A Advanced Charlotte and reliever Brandon Gomes from Triple-A Durham. The Rays will also activate outfielder David DeJesus from the 15-day disabled list and select the contract of reliever Steve Geltz. All four players were added to the Rays' taxi squad on Sunday.

The Rays will have to make a corresponding move to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for Geltz before Monday's 1:10 p.m. ET game against the Red Sox.

DeJesus, out since June 18 with a fractured left hand, went 5-for-22 with four walks in eight Minor League games. The 34-year-old outfielder was one of the Rays' most productive hitters this season before going down with the injury, batting .269/.367/.440 in 62 games. He said he is fully cleared to play and has been told he won't need offseason surgery.

"It's great to play," DeJesus said. "It's going to be sore sometimes, but it's not going to break, it's not going to tear anything, so now it's just getting through it and finish the year strong. ... I just want to be with the guys. I want to help the team win."

The Rays optioned Casali to Charlotte on Tuesday so they could bring him back up Monday, and the 25-year-old backstop was able to appreciate one aspect of the unusual assignment: He's now played at Class A, Double-A, Triple-A and the Majors in a whirlwind season.

"It is weird. This year in general has been pretty crazy for me," said Casali, who is hitting .169/.246/.203 in 23 games with the Rays. "I wouldn't have it any other way. It builds character, and it's been fun."

Gomes has split the season between Tampa Bay and Durham, compiling a 2-2 record and 4.50 ERA in 24 innings with the Rays and a 3.62 ERA in 27 appearances for the Bulls.

Geltz, 26, has gone 3-3 with a 2.38 ERA, 60 strikeouts and only 17 walks in 41 2/3 innings over 29 appearances for Durham this season. In May, Geltz received a 50-game suspension after testing positive for a drug of abuse.