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Tampa Bay Rays place Kevin Kiermaier (quad) on 10-day IL

Apr 3, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) walks on the field prior to the game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2021; Miami, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier (39) walks on the field prior to the game against the Miami Marlins at loanDepot park. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Rays placed center fielder Kevin Kiermaier on the 10-day injured list with a quadriceps strain prior to Tuesday night’s game at the Boston Red Sox.

Kiermaier was removed from Monday’s game during the third inning due to tightness in the quadriceps. He had felt similar tightness during spring training.

The defensive standout is 1-for-11 with four strikeouts in four games this season.

Kiermaier, who turns 31 on April 22, owns a .247 career average but is highly valuable due to his stellar play in center field. He has won three Gold Glove awards during his seven full seasons.

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 in which the Rays lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games.

Read More: MLB power rankings: 2021 outlook for every team on Opening Day

Overall, Keirmaier has 71 homers, 257 RBIs and 97 stolen bases in 733 big-league games, all with the Rays.

Manuel Margot, a former starting center fielder for the San Diego Padres from 2017-19, could see most of the time in Kiermaier’s spot.

Tampa Bay filled the roster opening by recalling infielder Kevin Padlo from the alternate training site. The 24-year-old Padlo has just 40 games of Triple-A experience out of 554 minor league contests.

Also, the Rays claimed catcher Deivy Grullon on waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. Grullon, 25, is 2-for-12 in five big-league games with the Philadelphia Phillies (2019) and Red Sox (2020).

Right-hander Chaz Roe (shoulder) was transferred to the 60-day IL to open up a 40-man roster spot for Grullon.

–Field Level Media

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