Yandy Diaz left today’s game in the first inning due to left groin tightness. The Rays doubled in his first at-bat and then advanced to third base in somewhat awkward fashion on a Wander Franco grounder. Though Diaz remained on the bases and then scored on a Brandon Lowe RBI grounder, Isaac Paredes replaced Diaz at first base in the bottom half of the inning.
Speaking with reporters (including Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times) after the game, Diaz said he will undergo an MRI to determine the nature of the injury. The issue didn’t begin with today’s game, as Diaz noted that he’d been dealing with some groin problems for the last few days. The Rays don’t play on Monday, so Diaz will get some time to recuperate and possibly avoid the 10-day injured list if his MRI results come back clean.
Losing Diaz for any amount of time would be a big concern, as the 31-year-old has been one of baseball’s best hitters this season. Diaz has been crushing the ball to the tune of a .321/.429/.593 slash line over 168 plate appearances, and his 188 wRC+ ranks second among all qualified batters. Long known for his ability to make hard contact, Diaz’s 95.7% average exit velocity, 13% barrel rate, and 58.3% hard-hit ball rate are all career bests.
While the 31-11 Rays have the league’s best record, they have also been dealing with more than a few notable pitching injuries, such as Jeffrey Springs’ Tommy John surgery and Drew Rasmussen’s recent placement on the 60-day IL with a flexor strain. Jose Siri missed a couple of weeks with a hamstring strain, but Tampa Bay has been otherwise pretty healthy on the position player side, though Diaz’s groin problem threatens to end that streak.
Paredes and Luke Raley are the only other players who have played at first base this season, so they could form a platoon to take over for Diaz at the position if he indeed needs to miss time. Vidal Brujan and Jonathan Aranda figure to be the top options for a Triple-A call-up in the event of an injury to a position player.
“He pulled a groan.” — Archie Bunker
He has to see a groinacologist
Yandy Diaz would be an impactful loss but Kyle Manzardo seems ready to contribute offensively on some scale.
Overall the Rays have created enviable depth throughout their organization.
Are Brooks Raley and Luke Raley related?
You Raley asked that?
Apparently brothers, BTW.
Really cool I was shadow-banned for nothing MLBTR. I found out commenting that Yandy Diaz could compete just using his arms like Krang.
Should I post fewer comments about ownership being dog turds? What do you want from me???
Don’t let them get you down bruthur.
Thanks ese! I live my life a 1/4 mile at a time, as I’m sure you do as well. I’m thankful to consider you a part of my family.
But I’m vin diesel. Your the vw dude
You’re
Totally random but I dropped a MASSIVE deuce earlier and I did it while listening to “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel on my upstairs bathroom Bluetooth speaker 🙂
Is Wark Mohlers related to Mark Wohlers?
Yes.
By marraige.
Honestly, at this point I’ve drifted so far away from the living grace of mark wohlers, I don’t think I could meet his ever-forgiving gaze.
The world has sullied me HBann22. I have long strayed from the pure guideline that mark set before me. I have seen things and I have performed things to defend the church of wohlers (mohlers depending on region) and I’m tired.
Let’s me rest.
I want the meds this guy is on but only if they take away my keyboard, nurse
“The Rays doubled in his first at-bat…” I love this site! Hahaha
I have no idea how a team can manage to fit an entire lineup in a batter’s box at the same time but I’m not shocked that the Rays have figured it out.
And managed to advance to third without any of them get tagged out…dammit!
It would be Kyle Manzardo time