Tampa Bay Rays designated hitter Yandy Diaz left Sunday’s 5-1 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks with a left shoulder strain, but he doesn’t anticipate the injury will sideline him for long.
Diaz, the American League’s leading hitter at .336, appeared to aggravate the shoulder during a 10-pitch at-bat against Merrill Kelly in the fifth inning at Tropicana Field. He looked uncomfortable after fouling off a pitch, prompting manager Kevin Cash and head athletic trainer Joe Benge to check on him.
Diaz stayed in the game long enough to finish the at-bat, grounding out to shortstop, but still looked to be in discomfort as he ran to first. Later, he left the dugout with Benge, and Richie Palacios pinch-hit for him to start the seventh inning.
“I’m not going to lie. I’m hurting a little bit,” Diaz said through an interpreter, according to MLB.com. “But it’s stuff that I’ve managed, and we’ve got to keep at it and keep going day to day and take it a game at a time and keep moving forward.”
Cash said Diaz has dealt with shoulder discomfort for “five years, probably,” and sometimes worsens it while swinging or sliding. Diaz said he feels it even when raising his arm but added that he has managed similar issues before.
“I’ve done everything. Honestly, I’ve even played a little bit while hurting,” Diaz said. “Look, I’m going to keep doing what I’ve got to keep doing. I’ve done this in the past. I feel really good about this moving forward.”
Diaz is considered day-to-day, and Tampa Bay’s scheduled off-day Monday gives him extra time before the Rays begin a series against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday.
“I feel like I’ll be ready,” Diaz said.
Diaz went 1-for-2 Tuesday to raise his AL-best average from .334 to .336. He has 12 home runs, 53 RBIs and a .932 OPS in 78 games for the Rays this season.
