Souza eyeing Tuesday return from broken hand
Outfielder scheduled to take live batting practice Friday in NY
BALTIMORE -- Steven Souza Jr. is close to being ready to leave the disabled list and he could be back in the lineup as early as Tuesday in Detroit.
The Rays outfielder has been on the 15-day disabled list since Aug. 2 after fracturing his left hand. He has been with the team in Baltimore and will continue to travel with the team to New York, where he will take live batting practice for the first time on Friday.
If Friday's batting practice goes well, Souza will either take batting practice again in New York or join Triple-A Durham and serve as the Bulls' DH on Saturday and Sunday before playing right field on Monday. The plan would then call for him to join the team in Detroit on Tuesday.
Video: TB@NYY: Souza Jr. belts a game-tying two-run homer
"Hand feels good, I can't wait to get back," Souza said. "You always want to finish strong at the end of the season, and be on the field."
In his first season with the Rays since coming to the team from the Nationals on Dec. 19 in a three-way deal that also involved the A's, Souza is hitting .214 with 15 home runs and 34 RBIs in 89 games.