Rays notes: DeJesus looks to provide offensive spark in September
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- David DeJesus' wait is over, and he's eager to make the most of September in his return.
"There's nothing different," DeJesus said of his goals for the upcoming weeks. "It's just trying to be at peace with the lineup that helps the team win."
DeJesus, who missed 64 games because of a left hand fracture before he was activated from the disabled list Monday, batted sixth as the Tampa Bay Rays' designated hitter in their series finale against the Boston Red Sox at Tropicana Field. He last played for the Rays on June 18 in a loss to the Baltimore Orioles, and he produced a .269 batting average with five home runs and 17 RBI before his absence.
In eight rehab games with the Gulf Coast League Rays and High-A Charlotte, he hit a combined .217 with two RBI, five walks and one stolen base. He was expected to miss about a month when he sustained the injury, but he's glad a prolonged recovery is behind him.
"You really can't put a timetable on a bone's heal," DeJesus said. "So that's the thing. We hoped from a good sense it was going to be four (weeks). But you never know. It's just one of those things when you play the game, it happens. Things like this happen."
The Rays envision DeJesus enhancing their lineup with his bat. Before Monday, he had reached base in his previous 15 starts and posted a .295 batting average with a .426 on-base percentage in the span. In 48 games from April 22 to the time he was placed on the disabled list June 19, he hit .314 with five home runs, 17 RBI and 22 walks.
"Just start hitting, because he was hot for a while," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "Just get him going offensively. We need his offense more than anything right now. Defensively, we're covered. He may or may not get out on defense. But primarily, just getting his bat going again would be great."
SEPTEMBER CALL-UPS AT HOME IN RAYS CLUBHOUSE
Tampa Bay welcomed catcher Curt Casali from Charlotte, plus right-handers Brandon Gomes and Steve Geltz from Triple-A Durham with active rosters expanding to 40 men Monday. Catcher Ali Solis with outrighted off the 40-man roster and accepted an assignment to Durham to make room for Geltz.
Geltz, in particular, is an interesting addition. The call-up represents his first promotion to the majors with the Rays since he was acquired from the Los Angeles Angels before the 2013 season. He made two relief appearances with the Angels in 2012, allowing one earned run in two innings pitched against the Rays.
In May, Geltz was suspended 50 games without pay after a second positive test for a drug of abuse. The test result violated the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. He said he considers the situation a learning experience.
"That was just something that was a mistake that I made in the offseason," said Geltz, who earned a 2.65 ERA in 70 appearances with Durham throughout the past two seasons. "Just having a little too much fun with my friends, and I paid the price. ... That's in the past. Time to move forward, and that's what I tried to do."
Gomes, meanwhile, returned for his third stint with the Rays this season. He was 2-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 21 games with Tampa Bay in previous trips to the majors this year. He posted a 3.62 ERA with 42 strikeouts in 27 appearances with Durham this summer.
"Any time you get to come up here, it's a good thing," Gomes said. "So I'm staying strong. I'm feeling really good right now."
Rounding out the group, Casali begins his second stint with the Rays this season. He joined Tampa Bay from July 18-Aug. 25, when he hit .169 with two RBI and five walks in 23 games (17 starts).
HELLICKSON EYES STRONG SEPTEMBER
Right-hander Jeremy Hellickson's year has been abbreviated, but he hopes to finish September strong.
"For one, just stay healthy," he said. "Just give the guys a chance to win every time out. ... I've only had a handful of starts, and I'm looking forward to this last month."
Hellickson takes the mound Tuesday in the opener of the Rays' three-game series against the Toronto Blue Jays at Tropicana Field. He has had trouble producing long outings since returning from arthroscopic surgery on his throwing elbow in late January. He has gone fewer than five innings four times in eight starts. Overall, he's 1-2 with a 2.98 ERA this season.
He'll face a familiar foe in Toronto. Hellickson is 5-3 with a 3.06 ERA in 13 starts against the Blue Jays. He made six starts against them last season, tying him with former Devil Rays right-hander Bryan Rekar in 2001 for the most starts in a single season against Toronto.
"That's how it usually goes this last month playing all AL East teams," Hellickson said. "Yeah, it will be fun."
WORTH NOTING
-- The Rays entered 3-9 all-time on Labor Day. In those results, they were 3-2 at home and 0-7 on the road.
-- Monday's series finale against Boston is part of 26 consecutive games against AL East opponents through Sept. 17. The Rays began Monday 4-6 in the span.
-- Tampa Bay pitchers began Monday with 1,232 strikeouts, the highest total in the majors. The 2013 Detroit Tigers set the all-time record with 1,428.
You can follow Andrew Astleford on Twitter @aastleford or email him at aastleford@gmail.com.
