Tampa Bay Rays activate INF Matt Duffy, place INF Yandy Diaz on the 10-day IL; Designate RHP Ian Gibaut for assignment

Prior to tonight’s game against the Boston Red Sox, the Tampa Bay Rays have activated infielder Matt Duffy off of the 10-day Injured List and have placed infielder Yandy Diaz on the 10-day Injured List with a left foot contusion. Meanwhile, to clear space on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Ian Gibaut has been designated for assignment.

Duffy will finally make his season debut tonight, batting fifth and playing third base. After entering spring training with regained confidence following an offseason in which he set out to gain weight to allow him to be more productive throughout an entire season, Duffy spent the duration of the spring dealing with a hamstring issue.

The nagging hamstring issue would be compounded with a back issue that flared up towards the start of the season and Duffy would spent the first several months of the season on the IL as he attempted to recover from his ailments. Finally healthy, Duffy returns to the Rays at a time of need.

Diaz has been among the Rays most consistent hitters this year, mashing .270/.343/.480 with 14 HR over 344 plate appearances this season. Unfortunately, he fouled a ball off his foot during the final inning of last night’s game, forcing him out of action for the next several days.

Gibaut made his Major League debut with the Rays just over a week ago, allowing two runs in two innings pitched against the Baltimore Orioles on the 12th. That would be his lone appearance before being demoted back down to Triple-A Durham.