Rays manager Kevin Cash said Tuesday that Walls (hip) is on track to be ready for the beginning of the 2024 season, Steve Carney of StPeteNine.com reports.
Walls underwent surgery in late October to repair a labral tear in his right hip and relieve discomfort caused by an impingement, but he has progressed well in the early stages of his rehab program and could resume workouts sometime in February. The 27-year-old racked up 22 stolen bases over 99 games in 2023, though he finished with a rough .201/.305/.333 overall slash line.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Recovering from hip surgery
Rotowire
Walls underwent right hip surgery Monday and is expected to return to participating in baseball activities in February, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The procedure was to relieve discomfort from an impingement and repair a labral tear in his right hip. Walls' readiness for Opening Day will be determined later in the rehab process, according to a release from the team. He hit .179 with a .278 slugging percentage in his final 263 at-bats of the season.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Gets start at shortstop
Rotowire
Walls is starting at shortstop and batting seventh in Tuesday's AL Wild Card Series opener versus the Rangers.
Walls didn't start two of the Rays' final three regular-season games and has posted an anemic .491 OPS since the beginning of June. However, manager Kevin Cash trusts Walls' glove at shortstop more than anyone else and that's earned him a start in Game 1.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Sitting amid slump
Rotowire
Walls is absent from the lineup Friday at Toronto.
Junior Caminero is playing shortstop and batting sixth as Curtis Mead handles second base and hits third. The 27-year-old Walls has slashed just .125/.250/.208 with 21 strikeouts over his last 57 plate appearances dating back to Sept. 7.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Back from paternity leave
Rotowire
The Rays reinstated Walls (personal) from the paternity list Monday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Walls was away for a couple of days while tending to more important real-life matters. Tristan Gray had replaced Walls on the roster but will now head back to Triple-A Durham with Walls back in tow.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Placed on paternity list
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Walls was placed on the paternity list Saturday, Tricia Whitaker of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Walls can be away from the team for up to three games. To take his spot on the roster, the Rays selected the contract of Tristan Gray.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Back in action Thursday
Rotowire
Walls (groin) is starting at shortstop and batting seventh Thursday versus the Mariners in his return to the lineup.
Walls hasn't played since Sunday because of a groin injury, but he feels well enough to give it a go in the series opener against Seattle. Assuming his health cooperates, Walls should see the bulk of the starts at shortstop for the Rays while Wander Franco is on administrative leave.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Could come off bench Wednesday
Rotowire
Walls (groin) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Red Sox but could be available off the bench, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The 27-year-old indicated he's fully recovered from the groin issue that's sidelined him the past couple days, but he'll still be held out of the lineup for Wednesday's series finale. Walls is expected to rejoin the starting nine Thursday versus Seattle but could see more regular off days going forward in an attempt to manage the injury. Osleivis Basabe will receive another start at shortstop in his place.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Could return Thursday
Rotowire
Manager Kevin Cash said Walls (groin) is feeling better but isn't expected to rejoin the Rays' lineup until Thursday's game against the Mariners, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Walls is sitting for the second straight game Tuesday due to a groin issue, and it appears he'll also be sidelined for Wednesday's series finale versus Boston. It doesn't appear to be a serious injury, so the 27-year-old should be back by the end of the week. Vidal Brujan is making a second consecutive start at shortstop Tuesday.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Remains out of lineup
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Walls (groin) remains out of the lineup for Tuesday's game versus the Red Sox.
Walls is a little banged up with minor groin soreness, though the Rays seem confident it's merely a day-to-day situation. He had just returned over the weekend after being out more than six weeks with an oblique strain. Vidal Brujan is getting another start at shortstop while Walls recuperates.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Battling groin injury
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Walls is absent from the Rays' lineup Monday versus the Red Sox due to a groin injury, Kristie Ackert of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Walls just returned Saturday after missing more than six weeks with an oblique strain and he lasted just two games before suffering another injury. The Rays are hopeful that he'll be able to avoid an IL stint this time around, but he'll be down for at least a day or two. Vidal Brujan is at shortstop Monday.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Takes over at shortstop
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Walls went 2-for-4 with an RBI, a run scored and a stolen base Sunday against the Guardians.
As expected, Walls has taken over the starting shortstop job in Tampa Bay, as he's started consecutive games at the position since being activated from the injured list Friday. He's gone 3-for-8 in that span and most importantly showed a willingness to be active on the basepaths Sunday. Walls will likely be limited to the bottom third of the order but should still be a solid source of stolen bases and runs scored down the stretch.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Returns from injured list
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Walls (oblique) was activated Friday from the 10-day injured list, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.
Walls is recovered from a left oblique strain that has kept him sidelined since late July and figures to get consistent work at shortstop down the stretch with Wander Franco on administrative leave. Osleivis Basabe remains active with major-league rosters expanding from 26 to 28, but he could slide into more of a utility role.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Return not imminent
Rotowire
Rays manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Walls (oblique) is "still a ways away" from a return, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
A left oblique strain forced Walls to the injured list back on July 22 and there is still no timetable for his return to major-league action. The switch hitter has swiped 20 bags this season and he's taken a step forward with the bat, with a 95 wRC+ putting him just a little below league average by that metric.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Placed on IL with oblique strain
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Walls was placed on the 10-day injured list Saturday with a left oblique strain, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
The injured occurred during Thursday's loss to the Orioles. No timetable for Walls' return has been established, but it's an injury which typically requires more than a minimum stay on the IL. Isaac Paredes should see a little more playing time with Walls out and Vidal Brujan -- who has taken Walls' spot on the roster -- could also get some starts.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Swipes two bags
Rotowire
Walls went 0-for-3 with a walk and two steals in Thursday's 3-1 loss against the Phillies.
Walls continued to run all over the Phillies, racking up his second and third stolen bases of the series Thursday. The pair of swipes pushed him to 20 on the season, the ninth most in baseball. Though he's managed to produce in the steal column lately, Walls is going through a mini-slump, having gone hitless in each of his last four games (10 at-bats).
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Two hits in return
Rotowire
Walls went 2-for-5 with an RBI, two runs scored and a stolen base Friday against the Mariners.
Walls was held out of the Rays' lineup for three games with a back issue, but he returned to tally his second multi-hit performance in 24 games in June. He hit just .175 for the month and also had only two stolen bases. Walls is hitting just .218 across 242 plate appearances on the campaign, but his versatility in the field and 12.4 percent walk rate give him the chance to play and rack up runs and stolen bases.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Returns to starting lineup
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Walls (back) is hitting eighth and playing second base Friday versus Seattle, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Walls was kept out of the lineup for three consecutive games because of tightness in his back/right lat, but the infielder is ready to roll against the Mariners for the series opener. Vidal Brujan will retreat to the bench with Walls back in the lineup.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Held out again
Rotowire
Walls (back) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game in Arizona, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
It's the third straight game Walls has missed with right lat/back tightness. An MRI came back negative, but it's possible Walls will need a stint on the injured list if the issue lingers. Vidal Brujan will be at second base and Isaac Paredes will handle the hot corner Thursday.
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Rays' Taylor Walls: Remains sidelined Wednesday
Rotowire
Walls (back) is not in the lineup Wednesday against the Diamondbacks.
As expected, Walls will miss a second straight game after being scratched from the Rays' lineup Tuesday due to tightness in the middle of his back. The hope is that he might be able to return to action in Thursday's series finale at Arizona. Vidal Brujan is covering second base and batting ninth Wednesday night at Chase Field.
