Kiermaier (hip) is starting in center field and batting sixth in Sunday's spring game against the Yankees.
The 32-year-old is making his spring debut for the Blue Jays after he signed a one-year, $9 million contract in December. Kiermaier played in just 63 games last season and underwent hip surgery in August, but he's fully healthy for Grapefruit League action and is expected to operate as Toronto's everyday center fielder this year.
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Blue Jays' Kevin Kiermaier: Not expected to platoon
Rotowire
Kiermaier (hip) said in his introductory press conference with the Blue Jays on Thursday that the team indicated to him he will be the everyday starter in center field, Gregor Chisholm of the Toronto Star reports.
The left-handed hitting Kiermaier has a career .661 OPS against lefties as opposed to a .735 OPS versus righties. However, the Jays signed him for his elite defense, so it makes sense that they don't plan to platoon the 32-year-old. With Kiermaier handling center field, George Springer will slide over to right. Kiermaier also noted that he's about 90 percent recovered from left hip surgery and expects to rebound offensively in 2023.
Kiermaier (hip) signed with the Blue Jays on Saturday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Blue Jays had a hole in their outfield after shipping out Teoscar Hernandez in mid-November, and it looks like Kiermaier will be the one to fill it. His defensive prowess in center field remains his primary appeal, and while he may not be the same in that area in his age-33 season as he was at his peak, he should still be an asset. He's rarely been a significant contributor at the plate, but he's managed a wRC+ of at least 90 for three straight seasons, which is all the Jays will need from him if he continues to play strong defense. The move should allow Toronto to move George Springer to an outfield corner, which should help keep him healthy, though Kiermaier isn't all that durable himself. He's only once appeared in more than 130 games and played just 63 last season before being shut down for hip surgery.
Kiermaier (hip) had his $13 million team option for 2023 declined by the Rays on Thursday, making him a free agent, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
The center fielder played in only 63 games last season before he underwent hip surgery in August. Kiermaier inked the six-year, $50 million extension with Tampa Bay ahead of the 2017 campaign, but he has a .232/.296/.382 slash line across the past five seasons. The 32-year-old's recovery timeline was expected to be about seven months, so he's not guaranteed to be fully healthy for the start of spring training in February.
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Rays' Kevin Kiermaier: Surgery goes according to plan
Rotowire
Kiermaier revealed that the season-ending surgery he underwent Aug. 3 went well, and he expects to return pain-free for the start of the 2023 campaign, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
According to Topkin, Kiermaier is expected to need seven months to complete his rehab and recovery from surgery to address an impingement and a torn labrum in his left hip, so he should have few restrictions, if any, for the beginning of spring training in late February. Perhaps the bigger question than whether Kiermaier will be 100 percent for the start of the season is if he'll be taking part in workouts with the Rays or another organization. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Rays intend to decline the $13 million 2023 team option for Kiermaier's contract and instead buy out the veteran outfielder for $2.5 million. The move doesn't preclude the Rays from bringing Kiermaier back at a more affordable rate.
Rays' Kevin Kiermaier: Requires season-ending surgery
Rotowire
Kiermaier will undergo hip labrum surgery that will force him to miss the remainder of the season, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Kiermaier was placed on the injured list July 10 and was transferred to the 60-day IL less than a week later. He wasn't eligible to return until at least mid-September but will be held out for the remainder of the year due to his procedure. The 32-year-old appeared in 63 games for the Rays in 2022 and slashed .228/.281/.369 with seven homers, 28 runs, 22 RBI and six stolen bases. He has a $13 million team option for the 2023 season, but it's possible that he'll become a free agent during the offseason after spending the last nine years in Tampa Bay.
Kiermaier (hip) was transferred to the 60-day injured list Saturday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Kiermaier was placed on the injured list with a left hip injury Sunday and will be unavailable until at least mid-September after being transferred to the 60-day IL. The 31-year-old will visit with a hip specialist after the All-Star break and isn't yet sure whether he'll be able to return to game action prior to the end of the regular season.
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Rays' Kevin Kiermaier: Not on track for minimal IL stint
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Rays manager Kevin Cash said Monday that Kiermaier (hip) will visit a specialist in Nashville over the All-Star break and will be "down for some time," Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Though he didn't say so explicitly, Cash's comments imply that Kiermaier won't be ready to return from the 10-day injured list coming out of the All-Star break when he's first eligible to do so. The 32-year-old is on the IL for the second time in less than a month due to the hip issue, so he'll receive another medical opinion in the days to come before a decision is made on how to treat the injury. Kiermaier's absence for the foreseeable future should help keep rookie Josh Lowe well insulated in as an everyday player in the Tampa Bay outfield.
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Rays' Kevin Kiermaier: Shifts to injured list
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Kiermaier (hip) was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday, Neil Solondz of the Rays Radio Network reports.
Kiermaier missed time in late June with a left hip injury, and he's now headed back to the shelf after inflammation in the hip resurfaced Saturday. The 32-year-old won't be eligible to return until after the All-Star break July 22, though it's unclear if he's expected to be recovered by that point. Brett Phillips and Josh Lowe should be the primary replacements in center field for Tampa Bay.
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Rays' Kevin Kiermaier: Hip issue resurfaces
Rotowire
Kiermaier will likely be placed on the injured list after pain in his left hip re-emerged during Saturday's 5-4 loss to the Reds, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Kiermaier was forced to the injured list June 20 with a similar injury, and he'll be shelved again just three weeks later. His timeline for a return is unclear, though the recurring nature of the issue is concerning.
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Rays' Kevin Kiermaier: Swipes bag in loss
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Kiermaier went 0-for-3 with a stolen base and a walk during Friday's extra-inning loss to the Reds.
Kiermaier recorded extra-base hits in his last two games but wasn't able to log a hit Friday. However, he showcased his speed after drawing a walk, stealing his sixth base of the season. He's recorded hits in five of his six games since returning to the injured list and has hit .217 (5-for-23) with two doubles, five RBI, two runs and a stolen base during that time.
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Rays' Kevin Kiermaier: Knocks in four
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Kiermaier went 1-for-4 with with a double, a walk, four RBI and a run scored in an 8-4 win over the Red Sox on Tuesday.
Kiermaier came up to bat with the bases loaded in the top of the first and doubled off Nick Pivetta to clear the bases and give the Rays a 3-0 lead. He would later pick up his fourth RBI of the game when he grounded into a fielder's choice to cash in Wander Franco from third. It was the most RBI Kiermaier has tallied in a single game this season. The 32-year-old center fielder has a hit in every game he has played so far in July, but he's still only slashing .231/.279/.374 with 21 RBI on the year.
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Rays' Kevin Kiermaier: Sitting Monday
Rotowire
Kiermaier isn't starting Monday's game against Boston, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Kiermaier is getting a day off after he went 3-for-12 with a run, two walks and four strikeouts over his last three games. Brett Phillips is starting in center field and batting ninth.
