PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Add another injury to the list in Rays camp: Veteran designated hitter Yandy Díaz is dealing with a sore left hand.
Díaz hasn’t played since Tuesday. Manager Kevin Cash said Sunday that a ball hit off the end of Díaz’s bat, leading to soreness in his left hand.
Earlier in Spring Training, Cash relayed a comment from hitting coach Chad Mottola that Díaz came into camp looking “the best he has looked that he can recall at this time of year” in the batting cage. Rather than push him, the Rays are giving Díaz time to receive treatment before easing him back into the lineup.
“He’s fine,” Cash said. “He’s sitting in such a good spot … the last thing that we want to do is aggravate it, get in a game, hit another ball off the end of the bat and aggravate it to where we’re dealing with this a week from now.”
Díaz, who’s likely to return to the leadoff spot this season, is coming off arguably his second-best season in the Majors. Working primarily as a DH while spending some time at first base, he hit .300/.366/.482 with 25 homers and 83 RBIs in 150 games, all career-high marks.
Cash said Díaz could resume swinging as soon as Tuesday, although it will likely take a few more days before he’s ready to play in a Grapefruit League game.
Díaz’s injury has made it even more difficult for the Rays to put together daily lineups in Spring Training, as they are dealing with a number of position-player injuries, while corner infielders Junior Caminero and Jonathan Aranda are away for the World Baseball Classic.
There was some good news Sunday on that front, though.
For one, outfielder Victor Mesa Jr. made his spring debut in the Rays’ 9-8 win against the Braves at Charlotte Sports Park, entering in the sixth inning to play center field and going 1-for-2 at the plate.
Center fielder Cedric Mullins may not be far behind, either, as he was able to practice on the field before Sunday’s game. Mullins was scratched from Wednesday’s lineup due to low back tightness and hasn’t played since.
Second baseman Gavin Lux (general soreness) appears to be closing in on his Rays debut as well. Lux was scheduled to hit in live batting practice on Sunday, putting him in line to play Tuesday afternoon.
“Better day for all the guys,” Cash said.
Infielder/outfielder Richie Palacios (low back tightness) is “a tick behind” Mullins and Lux in terms of his recovery, Cash said, but doing better. Outfielder Chandler Simpson also hasn’t played since Tuesday due to left hamstring tightness, but he should return soon.
Roster moves
The Rays optioned catcher Dominic Keegan and reliever Alex Cook, and reassigned right-handers Ty Johnson and Logan Workman to Minor League camp after Sunday’s game.
Keegan, Tampa Bay’s No. 20 prospect, went 1-for-11 with a double and six strikeouts in seven games this spring. The Rays stressed the importance of continued defensive development to the bat-first backstop, recognizing that he could contribute to the big league team at some point as he returns to Triple-A Durham for a second season.
“The message was, ‘Let’s continue to pound on the defense, because your quickest avenue to get to help us near-term is to be able to be good behind the plate defensively,’” Cash said. “Rave reviews from managers, pitching coaches and pitchers alike that all rave about him as a teammate, as a leader and as a communicator of in-game messaging and stuff.”
Johnson, the club’s No. 18 prospect, made a strong impression on the big league staff with his combination of stuff -- including a mid-90s fastball and a wipeout slider -- and poise. Cook, who was added to the 40-man roster last November, will continue to work as a reliever in the Minors.
Workman started Sunday’s game and gave up five runs on eight hits, including a trio of homers. He pitched 152 1/3 innings with a 4.02 ERA for Durham last season.
Game notes
Third baseman Ben Williamson went 2-for-4 with a two-run homer that had an exit velocity of 107.1 mph and traveled a projected 439 feet, according to Statcast. Valued for his infield defense and his ability to hit for contact, Williamson set out to add some power to his offensive profile this spring, and has been pleased with the early results.
Reliever Hunter Bigge recorded four outs on 12 pitches, striking out Sandy Leon with a runner on second for the last out of the third, then pitching a clean fourth.
Prospect Brayden Taylor launched a game-tying homer in the eighth, another encouraging sign after a tough year in Double-A.