Tampa Bay Rays Place Luke Scott on the DL

Rodney Page of the Tampa Bay Times says the Rays have placed Luke Scotton the disabled list due to a strained

back.  Scott injured his back last week and had hoped the pain would go away without a trip to the DL.  Unfortunately for him and the Rays, that wasn’t the case.

"I’ve been having really, really bad back spasms since Saturday.  I’ve been trying to get them to go away, but they haven’t so far. We have a plan and we’ll keep to that plan. It’s a difficult situation, but we’ll have to make the most of it."

Luke Scott is hitting .220/.281/.424 this year.  He hit .220 last year as well.  He does have 9 home runs this season and he has been able to show power in years past.  He hit 23 in 2008, 25 in 2009, and 27 in 2010 with the Baltimore Orioles.  Scott is a career .261/.344/.489.

According to Page, the DL stint will be retroactive to June 8th.  Scott will continue his rehab and hopes to be ready to return by June 24th.

The Rays are 2.5 games back of the first-place Yankees in the American League East.  They start a three-game series with the Miami Marlins tonight in Tampa.

Scott’s injury news comes on the heels of good news for the Rays.  Both Evan Longoria and Jeff Keppinger are nearing a return to the ball club.  Both have been sidelined with injuries and are making rehab starts.

For more on the Rays, be sure to check out Rays Colored Glasses.