Victor

Mesa Jr.

Rays manager Kevin Cash divulged Friday that Simpson has been playing through a thumb contusion that he suffered earlier this week. The 25-year-old speedster figures to avoid a trip to the injured list, but that’s hardly a lock. He’ll get some extra time off to rest and hopefully put the issue to bed. Richie Palacios is in left field with Victor Mesa Jr. in the opposite corner on Saturday afternoon. Fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day heading into Sunday’s series finale in Miami.

The 421-foot homer off Tyler Wells was Mesa’s only hit in five at-bats — and it didn’t prevent the Rays from losing in 13 — but he did have three other hard-hit balls and a sac bunt. It ought to keep him in the lineup with the Rays facing righties the next two days.

With Jonny DeLuca (hamstring) landing on the 10-day injured list on Sunday, Mesa will have an opportunity to show the Rays what he can do. He was sizzling at the dish at the Triple-A level, slashing .318/.416/.545 with a pair of homers and seven RBI through 77 plate appearances.

The official roster move is unlikely to be made until later this weekend following Saturday’s rainout at Yankee Stadium. Victor Mesa Jr. is the likely call-up from Triple-A Durham to fill his roster spot. DeLuca left Friday’s series opener with a right hamstring issue that occurred when he went first-to-third on a seventh-inning double by teammate Cedric Mullins. He’s likely facing a multi-week absence, even if the strain proves to be relatively minor.

It’s unclear if he’s joining the Rays on their taxi squad in the event that Jonny DeLuca has to go on the injured list or if Mesa is actually being recalled. The 24-year-old has hit an impressive .318/.416/.545 with two homers and seven RBI in his first 77 plate appearances at the Triple-A level this season.

Mesa Jr. was acquired from the Marlins this offseason and went 2-for-5 in his brief spring appearances. He’s yet to show more than some modest batting average upside during his minor league career. Rock was a former top 10 prospect in the Rays’ organization, but he posted a 5.21 ERA, 1.46 WHIP, and 88/39 K/BB ratio in 96 2/3 innings at Triple-A last season, so he’ll get another shot at that level in 2026. The Rays also reassigned RHPs Andrew Wantz and Kodi Whitley to minor league camp.

The 24-year-old Mesa, who was DFA’d on Tuesday, hit .286/.352/.460 with seven home runs and four steals in 210 plate appearances at Triple-A last season, but he struggled over 38 plate appearances in his brief MLB debut. The Rays figure to burn his last option year by sticking in Triple-A and seeing if he continues to develop. In return, the Marlins a 19-year-old infielder who has yet to play in the U.S. While splitting time between second and short, Brachi hit .337/.453/.408 in 228 plate appearances in the Dominican Summer League last year. He’s yet to homer in 434 career plate appearances.

The Marlins needed a spot on the 40-man roster for reliever Garret Acton. Mesa Jr. had a decent season at Triple-A, hitting .286/.352/.460 with seven home runs and four steals in 210 plate appearances, but he has slashed just .188/.297.344 in his 38 MLB plate appearances, and the Marlins have added outfield depth this offseason.

Mesa has struggled in his first exposure to the big leagues, hitting .188 (6-for-32) with one homer and six RBI across 16 games this season. He should get a chance to compete for a starting role next spring since he has little left to prove at the Triple-A level.

Mesa returns to the big leagues for the first time since late May as Dane Myers lands on the injured list with an oblique strain. The 23-year-old prospect received a quick cup of coffee with the Marlins a couple months ago, going 1-for-7 with an RBI over four games.