The Rays are getting a key glove back at just the right time, and that means Nick Madrigal is headed to Triple-A Durham.
Tampa Bay reinstated infielder Taylor Walls from the 10-day injured list after he missed time with a right hip flexor strain, then cleared room by optioning Madrigal to Durham. The move trims down a temporary solution and brings the Rays closer to the version of the roster they had in mind to start the season.
Madrigal had filled in while Walls was out and handled the assignment well enough. He made one start at shortstop and appeared in four games overall, finishing with three hits, including a double, in 10 at-bats.
The former first-round pick, taken No. 4 overall by the Chicago White Sox in 2018, now shifts back into organizational depth and gives Tampa Bay a steady insurance option across the infield. He has experience at shortstop, second base and third base.
The decision is a little surprising given how solid Madrigal was in the role. Jorge Mateo, who was signed to a Major League deal after his release from the Atlanta Braves and an injury to Ben Williamson, has struggled more sharply.
In 24 games and 67 plate appearances, Mateo has a -0.6 bWAR and a .148/.197/.213 slash line with an OPS+ of 15. Even so, he brings nine stolen bases and has earned manager Kevin Cash’s trust as a late-game defensive replacement.
Walls’ return changes that equation. He slides back into the lineup and pushes Mateo back into a reserve role, which is where he fits best on this roster.
The bat may not carry much weight, but the defense does. Walls gives the Rays elite shortstop defense, and that matters plenty for a pitching staff that leans on every clean play behind it.
He also adds value on the bases when he gets aboard.
With Walls and outfielder Jake Fraley both back in the mix this week, Tampa Bay is inching toward the lineup it expected to have. The path there has been messy because of injuries, but the Rays have still found help in unlikely places. Victor Mesa Jr. and Richie Palacios are two of the names that have stepped up and made the most of their chances.
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