The Tampa Bay Rays placed right fielder Jonny DeLuca on the 10-day injured list Sunday with a strained right hamstring after he was hurt two days earlier while running the bases against the New York Yankees.
On Sunday, the Tampa Bay Rays turned their lineup to the next day’s game plan after placing right fielder Jonny DeLuca on the 10-day injured list with a strained right hamstring.
The injury comes just two days after DeLuca was hurt on the bases. Victor Mesa Jr. was recalled from Triple-A Durham before Sunday’s game against the Yankees to replace him, and Ryan Vilade started in right field. Mesa is expected to rotate in right field with Vilade and Richie Palacios.
DeLuca will get an MRI later Sunday. He injured his hamstring in the seventh inning during Friday’s 4-2 win over the Yankees. The moment came when he felt pain after hitting an infield single to shortstop José Caballero. DeLuca stayed in the game, but was lifted after advancing to third on a double by Cedric Mullins.
After the Rays’ win on Friday. DeLuca said. “I was kind of hoping something would change. but going second to third. yeah. there was just no point to keep on running.” The Rays used that late-inning baseball motion—one more step toward home. one more turn of the bases—only for the pain to take over before he could do more.
At the time of the injury, DeLuca had been a steady contributor at the plate. He was hitting .269 with two homers and 19 RBIs in 41 games. In 2024, he batted .217 with six homers and 31 RBIs, after being acquired from the Dodgers for Tyler Glasnow. Last season, he was limited to 20 games because of hamstring and shoulder injuries.
Mesa’s return brings a different look to the outfield. Mesa joined the Rays in a trade from the Marlins on Feb. 6 and was hitting .329 with two homers and seven RBIs in 18 games for Durham. Last season with the Marlins, he batted .188 in 16 games.
The Rays enter the stretch still leading the AL East, but Sunday’s move reflects how quickly a season can shift on a single basepath decision—when a feeling of “hoping something would change” turns into time on the injured list.
Tampa Bay Rays Jonny DeLuca 10-day injured list right hamstring strain Victor Mesa Jr. Ryan Vilade Richie Palacios Yankees Cedric Mullins José Caballero AL East
10-day IL for a hamstring?? man just take the week off and heal up.
So he gets hurt running the bases TWO days after the other injury? Sounds like the Rays gotta chill with the full-speed basepath stuff. Also why is it always hamstrings with dudes lately.
I didn’t even realize it happened because the article says “running the bases against the Yankees” and I thought that meant in the game the Yankees were pitching him. But it’s like… the moment he went second to third?? idk. I guess the MRI later Sunday will tell if it’s serious but 10 days sounds short to me.
This is why I hate when guys “stay in the game” after feeling pain. Like he advanced to third and only then got lifted… that’s backwards. Next man up Victor Mesa Jr. though, good for him, but he’ll probably just get hurt too if they keep rotating outfield every other day. Rays always leading and then one basepath decision flips everything.