The Rays announced Monday that their, two-time Gold Glove winning, centerfielder is heading to the DL.
As if starting the season with a record of 3-12 wasn’t bad enough, Kevin Kiermaier heads to the 10-day DL (for now) with a torn ligament in his thumb. Surgery will be required and it’s looking like the timetable for a return to the Rays is anywhere between 8-13 weeks. The more likely being closer to the three month range. The injury was sustained in the first inning of Sunday’s loss to the Phillies while sliding into second.
Kiermaier, who turns 28 on Sunday, has struggled through the first few weeks of the season. In 12 games, he’s hitting .163/.250/.233 with a paltry .483 OPS. He’s also struck out 18 times in 48 at bats.
This will be the continuation of a frustrating career for Kiermaier. Only once, in his five seasons at the MLB level, has he played a full season. Since 2015 when he played in 151 games, Kiermaier has played in 203 games combined between 2016 (98) and 2017 (105).
Taking his place on the 25-man roster, the Rays have called up RHP Chih-Wei Hu from AAA Durham.
Hu, 24, will add much needed depth to a bullpen that’s had to work extra hard already this season. In six relief appearances for the Rays last year, Hu went 1-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings of work. In just two starts for Durham this year, he’s 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in nine innings. He has posted 12 strikeouts in those nine innings to go with three walks.
Field called up just in time
Maybe “perfect timing” isn’t the right way to explain Johnny Field getting called up. However, with Kiermaier going down, having the rookie outfielder on the roster might ease the blow a bit.
Field came into the game Sunday for Kiermaier and went 2-for-4 with a double. In just four games at Durham this year he was hitting .357 and is a career .271 hitter in the minors.
