The Rays put a familiar glove back in the middle of the diamond Sunday, reinstating Ben Williamson from the injured list before their regular-season home finale against the Red Sox at Tropicana Field. His return came with a tough corresponding move: veteran outfielder Jake Fraley was designated for assignment.
Williamson returns to Tampa Bay’s infield picture
- Williamson went on the injured list after sustaining a right hamstring strain on Aug. 6.
- He began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, appearing in three games. He made one start at second base, one at shortstop and one as the designated hitter.
- The Rays activated him before Sunday’s game against Boston, immediately placing him at second base and sixth in the batting order.
The right-handed-hitting Williamson resumes the job he held before the injury. He is set to share second base with the hot-hitting Richie Palacios while also serving as Taylor Walls’ backup at shortstop, giving Tampa Bay another dependable defender on the infield dirt.
Across 84 games this season, Williamson has batted .247/.309/.332 with three home runs, 26 RBIs and 1.1 wins above replacement.
Fraley squeezed out after return
Fraley had only returned from the 60-day injured list Tuesday after missing time since May 17 with a hernia. In 31 games for Tampa Bay, the left-handed-hitting outfielder posted a .216/.289/.364 line with two homers and five RBIs.
His path to a postseason role had narrowed, particularly with Victor Mesa Jr. emerging as another left-handed outfield option. The club instead chose to retain infielder Jorge Mateo, who had been brought in while Williamson was sidelined.
Mateo remains available as a reserve infielder and a potential late-game pinch-running piece. Williamson, meanwhile, steps back into a role the Rays know well: handling second, covering shortstop when needed and helping steady the middle of the field as the calendar turns toward October.
