Update: Longoria was activated from the disabled list today, in a corresponding move the team designated INF Brooks Conrad for assignment.
Evan Longoria has been out out of action since May 1, with eight partially torn left hamstring. Longoria may be nearing a return to the Rays early next weekLongoria is in a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham. It is his second attempt at a rehab assignment.
In mid-June Longoria played two games, but was shut down with a setback for another month.
“Right now, it’s high stakes every day,” Longoria said. “It’s going to be a battle for the Rays and everybody else.”
Longoria is 3-for-19 in his time with the Bulls on this assignment.
Rays manager Joe Madden, ever the optimist, seem to tamp down expectations of Longoria’s return.
“When he does come back, I think everybody’s going to expect the skies to part, it’s going to stop raining and all that other kind of stuff, “He’s going to need to come back and be patient because major league players in August have been playing all year. This guy has not. He’s on a rehab assignment. He’s basically coming out of spring training with 1½ legs, so you’ve got to be patient and understand that there might be a little bit of a curve to be worked with here.”
Longoria is expected to be used as a designated hitter three or four days a week when he returns.
The Rays added Ryan Roberts at the trade deadline, and Roberts has added some defensive stability to third base for the Rays.
The Rays have used eight different players at third base since Longoria went on the DL, including Sean Rodriguez, Will Rhymes, and Jeff Keppinger.
Tampa Bay Rays News – Luke Scott Is taking live batting practice. Scott has been on the DL with a strained right oblique. Jeff Niemann through a simulated game on Friday and remains on track to return in late August or early September.
