Tampa Bay Rays

Chandler Simpson

LF

Simpson was removed from Monday's contest after he sustained a busted lip when his helmet fell off and came up to strike him in the mouth. Simpson required stitches but is otherwise fine. He went 1-for-2 with a single prior to leaving Monday's game.

Taylor Walls

SS

Tampa Bay removed Walls from the series opener Monday against Detroit for precautionary reasons regarding his left hamstring. The Rays are being cautious with Walls because he missed two games last week due to the same injury.

Craig Kimbrel

RP

Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, Kimbrel showed no sign of injury while tossing a scoreless inning of relief in his Rays debut Tuesday in Baltimore, but his wrist began bothering him Friday. After consulting with team doctors, Kimbrel and the Rays came to a mutual decision for the veteran right-hander to go on the shelf, though he could be ready for activation when first eligible June 12.

Manuel Rodriguez

RP

Rodriguez is tossing bullpen sessions, but the Rays seem to be taking a cautious approach with his throwing program. The right-hander underwent surgery to repair a right elbow flexor strain back on Aug. 8 of last year, and the hope remains that Rodriguez will still be able to return to action at some point in June or July.

Steven Wilson

RP

Wilson is only playing catch at this point, but Tampa Bay is optimistic he'll be able to advance his throwing program early next month. The right-hander has been sidelined since the spring due to lumbar disk inflammation as well as an appendectomy. Last regular season, Wilson posted a 3.42 ERA, 1.30 WHIP and 51:22 K:BB over 55.1 innings with the White Sox.

Edwin Uceta

RP

Uceta is now in wait-and-see mode, according to Cash. The 28-year-old Uceta has been on the injured list all season with a right shoulder impingement and now appears to be looking at an even lengthier absence. Uceta went 10-3 across 70 appearances out of the Rays' bullpen last season, logging a 3.79 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and 103:27 K:BB in 76 innings.

Michael Grove

RP

Grove has worked a pair of outings so far, allowing one hit and no walks while fanning four over two scoreless innings. The right-hander, who's entering the final stages of his recovery from last year's right shoulder surgery, could become an option for Tampa Bay at some point in June if all continues to go smoothly in the minor leagues.

Gavin Lux

LF

Lux has already missed more than 60 days while he's been on the shelf all season, initially due to a right shoulder impingement before he sprained his left ankle April 11 while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham. He was cleared to return to action in the minors approximately two weeks later, only to be shut down earlier this month after suffering a setback with his shoulder injury. While the move to the 60-day IL won't affect Lux's timeline for a return, it will allow the Rays to open up a spot on the 40-man roster for right-hander Jonathan Heasley, who was called up from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move.

Jesse Scholtens

RP

Monday marked the shortest outing of the season for Scholtens, who had covered at least three innings in each of his previous eight appearances while serving as a starter or bulk reliever. He entered the game in the bottom of the 12th and was unable to protect the Rays' one-run lead, as Colton Cowser began the inning at second base and then came around to score on a fielder's choice. Scholtens then took a two-run lead into the bottom of the 13th, but after the Orioles tied the game on an RBI double and sacrifice fly, the right-hander surrendered a two-run walk-off home run to Cowser. With the Rays recently getting Steven Matz back from the injured list to fill out their rotation, Scholtens appears set to handle a more traditional bullpen role moving forward.

Jonny DeLuca

RF

Though the Grade 1 diagnosis is the least severe, the Rays nevertheless anticipate a lengthy absence for the outfielder. DeLuca had been serving as the Rays' primary right fielder of late, and in the two games since he got hurt, the club has used Ryan Vilade once (against a lefty) and Victor Mesa once (against a righty) at the position.

Jake Fraley

RF

Tampa Bay placed Fraley on the 10-day injured list Sunday due to the hernia, but it wasn't immediately clear whether the outfielder would need surgery to address the matter. Now that the Rays have confirmed Fraley will need a procedure, he appears likely to remain on the shelf through the All-Star break. Jonny DeLuca and Ryan Vilade likely represent the top candidates to see added opportunities in right field while Fraley is shelved, and utility player Richie Palacios also looms as an option to see more work in the outfield.

Austin Vernon

RP

Vernon, who's a non-roster invitee with Tampa Bay, hasn't pitching in spring training and is likely be sidelined for "some time," according to manager Kevin Cash. The 27-year-old right-hander was likely to open the new season in the minor leagues before getting injured, and he posted a 3.72 ERA and 1.19 WHIP over 19.1 innings for Triple-A Durham a year ago.

Ryan Pepiot

SP

The right-hander landed on the injured list with hip inflammation late in spring training and was transferred to the 60-day injured list in mid-April after suffering a setback. Pepiot received an injection after the setback, but his hip felt "unstable" when playing catch a few days later, and he'll now end up missing the entirety of the 2026 campaign.

Tre' Morgan

1B

Morgan didn't necessarily master Double-A as a hitter (102 wRC+) in 21 games last year, but with fellow Rays first base prospects Xavier Isaac (elbow) and Will Simpson being Double-A ready, Morgan was pushed to Triple-A. He is one of the best defensive first basemen in the world, and an excellent contact hitter, but Morgan's power is fringe-average at best, so he has very clear strengths and weaknesses.

Alfredo Zarraga

RP

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