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April 18: Recalled LHP Jacob Lopez from Triple-A Durham; optioned RHP Kevin Kelly to Triple-A Durham
Seven days into a stretch of 13 consecutive games without an off-day, the Rays found themselves in need of a fresh arm heading into Thursday’s series finale against the Angels at Tropicana Field. They had to use seven relievers during Tuesday’s 13-inning, marathon victory over the Angels, then four more (including three for the second day in a row) in Wednesday’s 5-4 loss.

So the Rays sent down Kelly, who pitched Wednesday night, and recalled Lopez on Thursday morning. Lopez debuted as a multi-inning reliever for the Rays late last year before starting the final game of the regular season. The lefty had been working as a starter in Triple-A, where he allowed three runs on eight hits and a walk while striking out nine in 10 innings over his first two starts. He gave up six runs on five hits while recording only two outs in his most recent outing last Friday.

April 14: INF Junior Caminero (left quad strain) activated from Triple-A Durham injured list
Two weeks after leaving a game with Triple-A Durham due to what turned out to be a minor left quad strain, Caminero returned from the injured list and rejoined Durham's active roster. Tampa Bay's No. 1 prospect was back in the lineup right away, batting second and playing third base for the Bulls against Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

OF Josh Lowe (right oblique strain)
Expected return: Late April/early May
Lowe got through his extended spring game action in good shape, and he is now set to join Triple-A Durham on April 18 to begin a Minor League rehab assignment. It's worth remembering, however, that Lowe essentially needs a full Spring Training's worth of at-bats to get ready for game action, likely putting him in line to return in early May, unless he indicates he's feeling good and has his timing at the plate before then. Lowe was shut down for six days on Feb. 29 with the idea that he likely would not play for 10-15 days after being irritated by left hip inflammation. Just as he was nearing a return to game action, Lowe tweaked his right oblique on March 15. An MRI on March 16 revealed a Grade 1 strain. (Last updated: April 16)

INF Jonathan Aranda (fractured right ring finger)
Expected return: Likely May
Aranda sustained a fractured right ring finger while fielding a ground ball during a workout on March 19, which led to surgery to insert a pin into the finger on March 21. It was an unfortunate injury at a tough time for Aranda, who had put together an impressive Spring Training and seemed to be on his way to a breakthrough season for the Rays. His IL stint began on March 25. He had the pins removed from his finger on April 15 and could progress fairly quickly into his hitting progression. He stayed active otherwise, throwing and essentially doing everything but hitting. "Still a ways away," manager Kevin Cash said, "but definitely in the right direction." (Last updated: April 15)

SS Taylor Walls (right hip surgery)
Expected return: TBD
There is no clear timeframe for Walls' return, as manager Kevin Cash said on April 13 that Walls is "just not going as quick as maybe we had originally anticipated." Cash clarified that Walls has not sustained any sort of setback. But he's not yet ready to take part in games, even in extended Spring Training, so he is considered day to day.

Cash said the team received a "very good report" from Walls' visit with Dr. J.W. Thomas Byrd in Nashville, Tenn., on April 1. Given the amount of time Walls has missed, it seems likely he will have to essentially recreate a progression similar to Spring Training whenever he returns to game action. Walls, whose injured list stint began March 25, underwent surgery on Oct. 27 to repair a labral tear and relieve discomfort from an impingement in his right hip. He said on Feb. 13 he had been dealing with a “noticeable hip impingement” for more than a year, and it reached the point in the playoffs where he could barely swing the bat. (Last updated: April 13)

RHP Taj Bradley (right pectoral strain)
Expected return: First half of May
Bradley recently threw a two-inning live batting practice session with "no hiccups," manager Kevin Cash said on April 12. He's set to pitch three innings in extended Spring Training on April 17, although he must still go through the process of rebuilding his stamina and increasing his pitch count before he's ready to return. Bradley was set to start against the Orioles on March 12 in Sarasota, Fla., when he felt tightness in his pectoral muscle while warming up in the bullpen. He underwent an MRI that confirmed a right pec strain. If the recovery and throwing progression take about six weeks as expected, he could return in the first half of May. He was placed on the 15-day IL on March 26, retroactive to March 25. (Last updated: April 13)

RHP Shane Baz (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Possibly May
Manager Kevin Cash said on April 12 that Baz is throwing two-inning live batting practice sessions, continuing to check boxes in his return. "He feels good," Cash said, "and that's most important." He will face hitters again on April 19. Baz dealt with two minor oblique setbacks during his comeback, with the first coming when he picked up a weight in the weight room in early March. Baz, who missed the 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on Sept. 28, 2022, completed his rehab late last year. But the young right-hander will be limited this season, as he has never carried a significant workload and did not pitch at all last season. Baz essentially began his buildup after Spring Training ended. He was placed on the 15-day IL on March 26, retroactive to March 25. (Last updated: April 13)

OF Jonny DeLuca (fractured right hand)
Expected return: Likely May
DeLuca was struck on the right hand by a 93.1 mph sinker from Boston's Garrett Whitlock while trying to check his swing in the third inning of the Dominican Republic Series finale at Estadio Quisqueya Juan Marichal. He was sent to a local hospital for X-rays, which confirmed a break in his right hand. DeLuca said the injury is lower on his hand, closer to his wrist. He was officially placed on the 10-day IL on March 27, retroactive to March 25, with an expected recovery time of six weeks. He is making progress, with the ability to hold a bat, but still feeling some soreness as expected. (Last updated: April 13)

2B Brandon Lowe (right oblique strain)
Expected return: TBD
Lowe was pulled early from the Rays’ April 3 game against the Rangers due to left side tightness and underwent a precautionary MRI. But that scan revealed no issues, and Lowe returned to the field for all three of Tampa Bay’s games at Coors Field. He didn’t start April 8-9 against the Angels, which was expected against a pair of left-handed pitchers. He was preparing for a possible pinch-hit appearance on April 9, however, when something flared up his right oblique. An MRI revealed a Grade 1 strain, and he was placed on the injured list on April 12, retroactive to April 9. His recovery timeline is uncertain, although the Rays' initial expectation is that he won't be sidelined as long as others who have dealt with more severe oblique strains. (Last updated: April 12)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

LHP Jeffrey Springs (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Likely July/August
Springs underwent successful Tommy John surgery on April 24, 2023. Assuming his rehab continues to go well, he could be in line to rejoin the Rays’ rotation by July or August, president of baseball operations Erik Neander said. He was placed on the 60-day injured list on March 15 to make room for righty Jacob Waguespack on the 40-man roster. (Last updated: March 15)

RHP Drew Rasmussen (right flexor strain)
Expected return: Late 2024
Rasmussen went on the IL a day after tossing seven scoreless innings on May 11 in the Rays' 8-2 victory at Yankee Stadium. Manager Kevin Cash announced on July 8 that Rasmussen was slated to undergo a season-ending hybrid internal brace procedure, which he underwent on July 24. Rasmussen, who previously had two Tommy John surgeries, is doing well in his rehab and could return to the big league staff in the final months of the season, president of baseball operations Erik Neander said. He was placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 20. (Last updated: Feb. 20)

LHP Shane McClanahan (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Likely 2025
McClanahan underwent Tommy John surgery on Aug. 21, his second time having the procedure. He is expected to miss the entire season, although the two-year contract he signed with the Rays in January to avoid arbitration included escalators for his 2025 to account for the possibility of a late-season return in ’24, if his rehab allows for it. He was officially placed on the 60-day IL on Feb. 14, before the Rays' first Spring Training workout. (Last updated: Feb. 14)

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