NEW YORK -- Another injury forced the Rays to shuffle their outfield mix ahead of Sunday’s game at Yankee Stadium.
As expected, the Rays placed Jonny DeLuca on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring strain and recalled outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. from Triple-A Durham. DeLuca exited Tampa Bay’s 4-2 win over the Yankees on Friday night in the seventh inning due to the injury, and manager Kevin Cash said afterward it was “likely” the athletic outfielder would miss time.
DeLuca said Friday night he was hoping for only a quick stint on the IL, but he lamented it was “just a bummer” to be sidelined after injuries limited him to 20 games last season. He was set to undergo an MRI on Sunday that would reveal more about how long he will be out.
“I think he got it pretty good,” Cash said Sunday morning, “but we’ll wait to see what the MRI says.”
With DeLuca and right fielder Jake Fraley (sports hernia) sidelined and outfield prospect Jacob Melton (sprained left ankle) also banged up in Triple-A, the Rays turned to the 24-year-old Mesa.
Mesa joined the Rays in a February trade with the Marlins after making his Major League debut for Miami last season. He was limited by injuries in Spring Training and recently spent nearly a month on the injured list due to a right hamstring injury of his own, but he returned to Durham’s lineup on Wednesday.
Mesa was playing for Durham on Friday night when he was pulled from the lineup shortly after DeLuca exited the Rays’ game in the seventh inning at Yankee Stadium. It was an unexpected promotion for Mesa, who said he thought the team was just being mindful of his health when he was taken out and told to get dressed.
“Then they told me again, ‘Hey, go change. You’re going to New York. Go change,’” Mesa said, smiling.
“I’m ready to help. The team’s doing great. I’ve just got to support whatever the team needs from me, and I’m ready to do whatever. It’s fun to be here.”
A left-handed hitter who can play all three outfield spots, Mesa slashed .188/.297/.344 in 16 games for the Marlins last season and was slashing .329/.420/.543 in 18 games for Durham.
“He’s very instinctual out in the outfield and really goes and gets it,” Cash said. “With his speed, I think he could really add to our position player group.”
The Rays will use Mesa to help address the need in right field created by the absence of Fraley and DeLuca. Ryan Vilade will continue to be a big part of the solution there, especially against left-handed pitchers.
The Rays have also discussed having Richie Palacios work in the outfield, Cash said. Palacios is currently serving as their primary second baseman against right-handed pitchers, a role he’d held all season in the absence of Gavin Lux, and he’s Tampa Bay’s top option at second while Ben Williamson is temporarily sidelined by a lower back strain.
“I think we'll see Richie Palacios pop out there at times,” Cash said. “Even when Fraley went down, it made sense to get Richie familiarized again without the outfield. I know he's predominantly been at second, but we'll get him out there when we can get out there and work.”
That could happen soon, as Cash said Williamson is doing “better” and hoping to return when first eligible to come off the injured list next weekend. The recently acquired Oliver Dunn, an infielder by trade who has shown the ability to play anywhere, could get some reps in the outfield in the meantime.