Rays place OF Avisail Garcia on the IL, promote RHP Jose De Leon

The Tampa Bay Rays have placed outfielder Avisail Garcia on the injured list with right oblique tightness and have called up right-handed pitcher Jose De Leon from Triple-A Durham.

Garcia felt his oblique flare up during his plate appearance in the fifth inning of last night’s game against the San Diego Padres. He stayed in on the defense for the next couple of frames before the Rays removed him from the game in the 7th inning.

Originally, it was being reported that Garcia was expected to be able to play once the Rays return to Tropicana Field on Friday, but that will no longer be the case.

Garcia has not yet had an MRI, which will determine the severity of the injury, but at this time it is not anticipated to be a long stay on the injured list.

It has been a bounce back season for the veteran Garcia, who so far in 2019 has hit .278/.335/.459 with 17 HR over 436 plate appearances. The Rays picked him on a one year deal after an injury plagued season with Chicago in 2018.

The Rays, who have suffered an array of injuries, will have to endure. While Brandon Lowe is beginning a rehab assignment alongside Joey Wendle, the Rays outfield will now consist of Kevin Kiermaier, Guillermo Heredia, Austin Meadows, and 4⁄5th’s of Tommy Pham — who has a fractured hand, but is still able to play.