Rays notes: SS Yunel Escobar welcomed back into lineup

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Rays welcomed back Yunel Escobar on Friday, marking the end to the shortstop's absence since he was placed on the disabled list July 1 (retroactive to June 25) with a sore right shoulder.

To make room for Escobar, reliever Jake McGee was placed on the paternity list after the birth of his daughter, Rowen Beth, on Thursday.

Escobar, 31, appeared in two games at shortstop during his rehab assignment for High-A Charlotte, where he hit 1 for 7 with one RBI and two runs scored. He entered the series opener against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday at Tropicana Field with 52 straight plate appearances without a strikeout, the majors' longest active streak.

"I feel good," Escobar said through translator George Pappas. "It's only the second time that I've ever been on the DL. So that's a little bit different for me, but I'm happy to be back. And I'm just happy to be able to help the team."

Escobar's re-entry into the lineup meant Ben Zobrist was moved to right field Friday. Zobrist had performed well at shortstop in Escobar's absence, and with Escobar's struggles defensively this season -- he has already committed eight errors after posting seven last year -- there was some question about how Escobar would appear Friday and beyond.

Entering the series against Toronto, he had hit .244 with four home runs and 22 RBI this season.

"He seems to be very eager to get back out there," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Listen, this guy, I thought should have won the Gold Glove last year at shortstop. He's probably been our best hitter against left-handed pitching all year. To get him back out there, to get the team back to somewhat normal with our regular rotational patterns, I know we've had a nice look over the last couple weeks. But in order to sustain that, you've got to keep guys fresh."

Zobrist, for his part, has no regrets about how he played at shortstop, where he started in 14 of the Rays' 15 games with Escobar on the disabled list. The defensive play complemented his offensive rise: He added 22 points to his batting average (.244 to .266) and 60 points to his OPS (.698 to .758) in 12 games since June 28.

"For me, it was the position I grew up playing," Zobrist said. "Playing that position so much as a youngster, I think any time you go back there, if I think of one vantage point that I see the game from, it's mostly shortstop."

HEALTH UPDATES

There were a number of health developments Friday for Rays players on the disabled list.

Outfielder Jerry Sands (strained tendon in left wrist), on the disabled list since June 24 (retroactive to June 23), said he'll need season-ending surgery. A date for the procedure has yet to be determined. He said he'll swing again about three to four months after the procedure.

"We've got a pretty good little timetable," Sands said. "So I don't have to necessarily rush anything."

Outfielder David DeJesus (left hand fracture), on the disabled list since June 19, said he needs more healing before he can resume baseball activities. He plans to revisit the doctor and receive an update in two to three weeks.

Outfielder Wil Myers (right wrist fracture), on the disabled list since June 1 (retroactive to May 31), had his cast removed but is uncertain about his rehab schedule. The team has said Myers could require three to four weeks after the cast was removed.

"It's going to take some time to get used to," Myers said of not wearing the cast. "It's sore. It's really sore."

PRICE EAGER FOR ALL-STAR GAME

Left-hander David Price was recognized on the field pregame Friday for being named to his fourth All-Star Game. He stood alongside Andrew Friedman, the Rays' executive vice president of baseball operations, as a red-and-blue No. 14 All-Star Game jersey was presented.

Don't anticipate Price, who starts against the Blue Jays on Saturday, to have much baseball on his mind during his down time in Minneapolis. When asked if he'll talk shop with some of baseball's other top pitchers, Price said he'd opt for a more relaxed approach to the event.

"No, not really," Price said. "I guess I could. I'm kind of there to relax and not think about baseball a whole lot. That's our three-day break from baseball. I guess I could. I just haven't yet."

Price's future remains uncertain. With the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaching, speculation has continued about whether he could be moved. Teammates continue to wonder.

"It's definitely in the back of our minds," Rays right-hander Alex Cobb said, "and just watching David handle this situation, it's been real surprising he can continue to be the leader that he is and be the good teammate everyone expects him to be even with all this swirling around him. It's been awesome to see."

WORTH NOTING

--- On Friday, the Blue Jays selected the contract of former Rays infielder Dan Johnson, who became known for his pinch-hit home run off New York Yankees right-hander Cory Wade in Game 162 on Sept. 28, 2011. Johnson, who had played for Triple-A Buffalo before the promotion, batted eighth as the designated hitter in the series opener against Tampa Bay.

--- Kevin Kiermaier, who went 4 for 4 with a grand slam in the dramatic loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday, said the Rays' off day Thursday came at the right time.

"Any time you lose a game like that, it's pretty stressful," Kiermaier said. "So it was nice to have a carefree day yesterday, doing a whole lot of nothing. So it definitely helped."

--- The Rays' three-game series against the Blue Jays ends a streak of 17 consecutive games against teams with records better than .500 going into the All-Star break. Tampa Bay began Friday 10-4 in such contests.

You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.