ST. PETERSBURG -- The Rays had to once again shuffle their bullpen personnel prior to Sunday’s series finale against the Angels at Tropicana Field.
Veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel was placed on the 15-day injured list after just one appearance with his new team due to a right wrist strain. His assignment was made retroactive to Thursday.
The Rays also designated right-hander Andrew Wantz after he struggled in the late innings of Saturday’s 14-3 loss to the Angels.
To fill those spots in the bullpen, the Rays recalled left-hander Cam Booser and righty Trevor Martin from Triple-A Durham.
Kimbrel looked and felt good in his Rays debut on Tuesday night in Baltimore, where he worked a scoreless inning with two strikeouts the same day he officially signed a Major League deal with Tampa Bay. But he experienced some soreness on the top of his wrist when he reported to Tropicana Field on Friday afternoon, and it was uncomfortable while playing catch before the game.
“It’s something I felt like I could try to throw through, but after really evaluating it -- as you go down the line, you don't want it to either affect me moving forward for a while and be something I'm dealing with all year long or something that might affect something else in my body,” Kimbrel said.
The Rays thought a day off might resolve the issue, but it was still stiff on Saturday. Rather than trying to make the 38-year-old pitch through the discomfort, the Rays put him on the IL with plans to give him a few days off from throwing.
“He can be a big part of our bullpen moving forward and [this was] not something we were going to ask him to push through,” manager Kevin Cash said.
Kimbrel said he doesn’t want to take off too much time from throwing because the longer he is inactive, the longer it will take to get back on the mound.
“It’s tough because I'm excited for this opportunity, had a good first outing, wanted to keep it going,” Kimbrel said. “But thinking about the team, thinking about myself, putting both together, I think if I can just have a couple days off, let the swelling go down, things will be good and be right back on track.”
Placing Kimbrel on the IL allowed the Rays to bring back Martin, who was optioned to Triple-A on Wednesday after throwing three innings against the Orioles on Tuesday night. And sending out Wantz cleared a spot for Booser, the 34-year-old left-hander with a remarkable backstory behind his MLB debut for the Red Sox two years ago.
Booser spent this spring in Rays camp and pitched well, and he was added to Tampa Bay’s 40-man roster before Opening Day, even though he didn’t break camp with the club. Cash said the Rays have had “a couple situations” over the past two months where they considered calling him up, but the timing was never right for a lefty who’s most likely only going to work one inning at a time.
Booser has been pitching well in the Minors, posting a 1.80 ERA and 0.95 WHIP with 24 strikeouts and only five walks in 20 innings over 23 appearances for Durham.
“I don't think I was really waiting for a call. I was just enjoying every day,” Booser said. “No part of me was sitting back wondering when the phone was ringing. I was just thankful to wake up and be able to play a game.”
With a need for some stability in their bullpen and a couple lefty-heavy lineups on the horizon, though, the timing finally worked out.
“I'm blessed to be able to play the game, first and foremost, and I think now it's even more of a blessing to be able to do it at the highest level again,” Booser said.
Jax good to go after back bruise
Right-hander Griffin Jax had to exit his start against the Orioles last Tuesday night at Camden Yards after two innings due to a back contusion resulting from a 107.2 mph comebacker hit directly at him, but he is ready to make his scheduled start against the Tigers on Monday night at Tropicana Field.
“Back’s good. Woke up the next day fully expecting it to be black and blue and sore, but got out of bed great,” Jax said Sunday. “Played catch the next day, no issues. So, at this point, I don't feel any limitations.”