Evan Longoria Expects to Return to the Rays in Mid-June

The cornerstone of the Rays offense (figuratively and literally) hopes to return to the lineup by the middle of this

month.  Evan Longoria has been on the disabled list since May 1st.  He was diagnosed with a  strained hamstring, an injury that can be tricky to estimate a time table for return.  At the time of the injury, the Rays general manager Andrew Friedman said Longoria was a quick healer and he hoped to have him back soon.  It’s been little over a month, but Friedman and the Rays may be soon getting their wish.

Longoria told the Tampa Bay Times yesterday that he expects to start a rehab assignment after the Rays wrap up their current road trip.  The team starts a three-game series in Miami against the Marlins today.  Tampa Bay has an off day on Monday, then they return to Tampa Bay where Longoria may be set to start his rehab.

"“It’s feeling good,” Longoria said. “It’s at the point where I’m ready to push it. I’m ready to see where we can get on a daily basis. I think we’re past all the bad stuff. It’s taken a lot of steps forward in the last week and a half.”"

Mark Topkin, who writes a column titled The Heater for the Tampa Bay Times, said Longoria hasn’t yet been running at beyond 80-90%.  He will test the hamstring more rigorously when he starts participating in drills with the team, but he is optimistic about a mid-June return.

At the time of the injury, Longoria was hitting .329/.433/.561 with 4 home runs.  It was a red-hot start to the season, and with the Rays battling for first in the AL East, the team can only hope Longoria can keep up the hot streak when he returns.

Last season, Longoria struggled but still managed to propel the Rays into the postseason.  He hit .244/.355/.495 in 133 games for the Rays.  But he hit one of the most memorable home runs in history when he sent a laser shot over the left field wall in Tampa to send the Rays into the play-offs.

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