ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays got back a key part of their infield before Friday night’s series-opening 8-5 win over the Angels at Tropicana Field, but only for six innings.
Ben Williamson was reinstated from the 10-day injured list after missing nearly two weeks due to a low back strain and was back in Tampa Bay’s lineup, playing shortstop. But Williamson was forced to exit his first game back after taking a 98.6 mph sinker from Angels starter Walbert Ureña off his left forearm while batting in the sixth inning.
X-rays were negative, however, and manager Kevin Cash said he’s “hoping” Williamson will be available on Saturday and possibly in the lineup against Angels lefty Reid Detmers.
On the first pitch of his third plate appearance of the night, Williamson swung at an up-and-in sweeper and shot it foul down the right-field line. The next pitch was also high and tight, bouncing off Williamson’s forearm. He trotted to first base but came out of the game after being checked by first assistant athletic trainer Mike Sandoval.
“He was frustrated, but he was hurting,” Cash said. “It got him right on the elbow bone and kind of blew up pretty quick.”
Williamson was replaced by Oliver Dunn, who remained in the game to play shortstop before moving to third base in the ninth. Taylor Walls returned to the field for the first time since Monday in the ninth, playing shortstop, and Cash said he’s “confident” Walls will be ready to start Saturday afternoon.
Walls was out of the lineup again Friday night due to left hamstring tightness but said he had an on-field workout Friday afternoon that went “extremely well.” Walls said before the game he was also “very optimistic” about returning Saturday.
The Rays optioned infielder Carson Williams to Triple-A Durham to make room for Williamson’s return. Separately, Tampa Bay continued its recent bullpen shuffle by selecting the contract of right-hander Andrew Wantz from Triple-A and designating righty Jonathan Heasley for assignment.
Williamson felt a spasm in his back while fielding a ground ball in his last appearance on May 15. The Rays waited until May 20 to place him on the IL, but they made his stint retroactive to May 17, believing he would only need the minimum stint or close to it.
“The progression was a little bit slower than I would have liked, but it feels a lot better now,” Williamson said Friday afternoon.
Acquired from the Mariners in February as part of a three-team trade, Williamson has been a big contributor for Tampa Bay on both sides of the ball. A slick and dependable defender, the 25-year-old has bounced around the infield at second base, shortstop and third, serving as the right-handed-hitting portion of a platoon with Richie Palacios at second.
At the plate, Williamson is slashing .272/.357/.342 with 14 RBIs and only 25 strikeouts in 130 plate appearances over 40 games this season.
“He's done a lot of good things for us, whether it's playing second or short,” manager Kevin Cash said. “The approach at the plate really complements our offense.”
Williamson tested his back by facing live pitching the past few days, and he did some pregame work on Friday afternoon to make sure everything felt good. He said he’s not concerned about the injury being an issue moving forward.
Williamson’s return could allow the Rays to run Palacios out to right field -- where they’re without Jake Fraley and Jonny DeLuca -- when needed. Having him back should allow the Rays to give Walls the occasional day off.
Williams, who began the season as Tampa Bay’s top prospect and Opening Day shortstop, went hitless with a walk over eight plate appearances in his second big league stint of the season. He was used as a pinch-runner twice last week and scored a run in both appearances.
Wantz, 30, spent parts of four seasons in the Majors with the Angels before undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2024. He signed a Minor League deal with the Rays in January 2025, made his way back to the mound for 12 Minor League outings, then came to Major League Spring Training as a non-roster invitee this year.
Heasley gave up five runs on eight hits over four innings in relief in the Rays’ 11-2 loss to the Orioles on Wednesday in Baltimore, his first big league appearance since May 23, 2024.