Victor

Mesa Jr.

He golfed a Raisel Iglesias change up just over the right field wall in Truist Park. Mesa didn’t start against lefty Martín Pérez but has been something of a revelation for the Rays against right-handers this year, as he’s hitting .238/.303/.455 with 11 homers and eight stolen bases.

Recently back off the injured list, Mesa Jr. continues to hit. This home run was his 11th on the season in just 189 at-bats. He was also docked for a caught stealing in this game, but that was on an odd play where he tried to scamper home after a pick-off throw to first and was thrown out. Regardless, he’s a strong deep league option to close the season in an everyday role for the Rays hitting near the middle of their order.

Mesa Jr. was activated off the injured list on Tuesday and right back in the starting lineup against a lefty. He went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and is right back in there against a right-handed pitcher. Jonny DeLuca started on Tuesday, and Cedric Mullins is starting in center field and batting seventh tonight, so it appears that those two may be in a platoon.

The 24-year-old was placed on the injured list on August 19th with a strained left hamstring. He was hitting .214/.288/.447 with 10 home runs and six steals in 179 plate appearances for the Rays.

This was Mesa Jr.'s first rehab game after being put on the injured list with a strained left hamstring. He has only missed nine days so far, so he could be back with the Rays over the weekend.

Mesa is eligible to be activated from the injured list this weekend. The 24-year-old hit the injured list with a left hamstring strain last week. He should be ready to return after getting a couple tune-up games under his belt this week. He’s homered five times in 23 games since last month’s All-Star break.

Mesa’s setback last night will shelve him for at least 10 days. Ryan Vilade and Jonny DeLuca will get extra starts against righties while Mesa is out.

Mesa has been battling a lingering hamstring issue, which caused him to miss three games earlier this week. It sounds like he could wind up requiring a trip to the injured list since he lasted just four innings before being lifted for a pinch-hitter in his return to Tampa Bay’s lineup.

Mesa was lifted for a pinch-hitter in the fourth inning of his first game back following a three-game absence due to hamstring tightness. He was hit by a pitch during his lone plate appearance prior to exiting.

Mesa is back patrolling right field and batting sixth following a three-game absence due to hamstring tightness. It doesn’t appear to be a significant concern moving forward.