Tampa Bay Rays centerfielder Kevin Kiermaier is headed to the 10-day Injured List after spraining his left wrist in Saturday’s game. Meanwhile, it would appear that a few players could be coming off the IL sooner rather than later.
Kiermaier jammed his left hand into Matt Chapman’s left knee while trying to swipe second base in the second inning of Saturday’s contest against Oakland. He was in immediate pain after the injury occurred and as he made his way off the field and into the clubhouse with a member of the training staff.
Kiermaier said on Sunday his wrist didn’t feel any better as the night progressed, and his condition hadn’t improved when he woke up this morning.
It hurt right when the initial play happened yesterday, and even after the game getting to the hotel, it was tightening up, stiffening up, just feeling not so great. And then waking up, same thing — swelling and a lot of pain, a lot of stiffness in there. Wasn’t expecting it to feel as painful as it does today. But there was a lot of impact during the play. Yeah, it doesn’t feel great.
— Kevin Kiermaier
Because of it, the Rays decided to place the centerfielder on the 10-day IL. How long he will be shelved is still to be determined.
Rays skipper Kevin Cash said Kiermaier will be shut down and will miss “some time,” although the team won’t have a better understanding of his recovery timetable until the swelling subsides. Kiermaier did receive X-Rays on his wrist which came back negative, and he is expected to undergo more tests when the team returns home on Monday.
The team recalled up reliever Louis Head on Sunday to fill Kiermaier’s roster spot for the short term, but the potential to add another position player to the roster still remains. Brett Phillips, Randy Arozarena, Austin Meadows, and Manuel Margot are expected to fill the hole in the meantime.
I know KK is not going to be out for long, and he’ll be back out there when he is. So for myself and this team, they’re going to have to ask me to step up and continue to do what I’ve been doing — getting on base and helping this team win any way I can.
— Brett Phillips
Other Injury Notes
— Ji-Man Choi (right knee) has played in five games during his Minor League rehab assignment — having gone 5-16 with four runs and two RBI (as of 5:30 PM on Sunday) — and appears primed to return when the Rays begin their series with the Yankees on Tuesday.
At the plate, he looks pretty timed-up. They have faced a bunch of lefties that he’s played against, and for good reason. We just need to get him reps. But he has had good at-bats. He looks very much like himself, so that was encouraging to hear.
— Kevin Cash
— Diego Castillo (right groin tightness) is expected to return from the 10-day IL the first day he’s eligible, which is Friday.
— Right-hander Michael Wacha (right hamstring tightness) is scheduled to throw a light bullpen session on Tuesday, and the Rays will learn more about his status based on how he feels afterward. Even though the right-hander has been able to play catch while he’s been on the shelf, the real test will be running and fielding his position.