ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays’ infield has been made whole again, as Tampa Bay reinstated the versatile and valuable Ben Williamson from the injured list before Sunday’s series finale against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field.
To make room for Williamson’s return, the club made the difficult decision to designate veteran outfielder Jake Fraley for assignment. Fraley returned from the 60-day injured list on Tuesday, but he would have been hard-pressed to carve out a role on the team’s postseason roster due to the emergence of fellow left-handed-hitting outfielder Victor Mesa Jr.
Williamson’s role is much clearer, though, as it will be the same one he played before going down with a right hamstring strain on Aug. 6. The right-handed-hitting infielder will platoon with hot-hitting Richie Palacios at second base and back up Taylor Walls at shortstop, giving Tampa Bay another sure-handed option up the middle.
He immediately returned to the lineup for Sunday’s regular-season home finale against Boston, starting at second base and batting sixth.
“I'm super excited to be back,” Williamson said Sunday morning. “Definitely was disappointed going down with the injury. Didn't know at the time if it was going to be the season or not, so just to be back, I'm super grateful.”
Williamson has hit .247/.309/.332 with three homers, 26 RBIs and 1.1 wins above replacement in 83 games for the Rays this season. He started a Minor League rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday and played three games, making one start at second, one at shortstop and one as the designated hitter.
Williamson said he knew he was ready to return as soon as he felt fine running during that rehab stint, and the Rays were thrilled to get him back in their infield mix.
“When he [was injured] in Colorado, I think there were a lot of questions whether he'd be back in time, but he's busted his butt in the rehab,” manager Kevin Cash said. “He's a healthy player -- and did so much for us before the injury.”
Fraley, who had been sidelined by a hernia since May 17, batted .216/.289/.364 with two homers and five RBIs in 31 games for Tampa Bay. The Rays had high hopes for him when they added him to their outfield mix last offseason, but injuries made it difficult for him to make any sort of impact after the first month of the season.
It’s possible that Fraley could clear waivers and remain in the organization, at which point the Rays would keep him in consideration as a potential bat off the bench in the postseason.
“Tough conversation, but respect the heck out of him,” Cash said. “His injuries kind of derailed his season. None of us drew it up the way it was.”
In designating Fraley for assignment, the Rays made the decision to keep infielder Jorge Mateo, who was acquired to fill Williamson’s role. Mateo could serve as a pinch-runner or backup infielder moving forward, especially as the Rays manage Walls’ and Williamson’s workload coming off recent injuries.
For instance, Mateo figures to play quite a bit during Tuesday’s doubleheader at Yankee Stadium, where the Rays will face two left-handed starting pitchers.