Evan Longoria left the team today bound for a rehab assignment in Triple-A Durham. Longoria has been out since May 1 with a partially torn hamstring. Rays manager Joe Madden indicated that the rehab assignment would last three or four days max, and would depend on how Longoria.
Back in mid-June Longoria attempted his first rehab assignment, and felt discomfort, cutting the assignment short. Longoria is expected to start on Thursday in Durham as a DH, and would work his way back to the Rays to contribute offensively first.
The Rays have struggled offensively since Longoria has been out of action.
Longoria said doctors assured him he can’t make the injury worse, and while he’ll have to deal with some pain and soreness, he can push through and play with it.
“Finally get to play baseball again,” Longoria, 26, said, smiling. “I haven’t had any competitive at-bats in a while, so it’s really going to be about how I swing the bat, how I feel in there.”
