The Tampa Bay Rays activated center fielder Kevin Kiermaier from the 10-day injury list prior to Saturday’s game against the host New York Yankees.
The three-time Gold Glove winner missed the previous 10 games with a strained left quadriceps. He initially sustained the injury during spring training before aggravating it during a game against the Boston Red Sox on April 5.
Kiermaier wasn’t in the starting lineup but was available to play. He is 1-for-11 with four strikeouts in four games this season.
Kiermaier, who turns 31 on Thursday, owns a .247 career average but is highly valuable due to his stellar play in center field. He won his Gold Gloves in 2015, 2016 and 2019.
Kiermaier batted .217 with three homers and 22 RBIs in 49 games during the shortened 60-game 2020 season. He equaled his homer total in the postseason and was 7-for-19 with two blasts during the World Series, which the Rays lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.
Overall, Kiermaier has 71 homers, 257 RBIs and 97 stolen bases in 733 big-league games, all with the Rays.
Right-hander Chris Mazza was optioned to the alternate site to open up the roster spot. Mazza had an 11.74 ERA in four appearances this season and he was touched up for 10 runs and 14 hits in just 7 2/3 innings.
