Rays activate 1B Yandy Diaz from restricted list

Field Level Media|published: 07/26/2024, 3:12pm EDT

Jul 13, 2024; St. Petersburg, Florida, USA; Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz (2) hits an rbi double against the Cleveland Guardians in the third inning at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated first baseman Yandy Diaz from the restricted list on Friday afternoon.

It was not immediately known if Diaz will be in the lineup for the Rays' game against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Diaz missed the team's recent seven-game road trip due to a family matter. He'll claim the open roster spot after Tampa Bay traded outfielder Randy Arozarena to the Seattle Mariners on Thursday.

Regular third baseman Isaac Paredes has started at first base in place of Diaz. Paredes had two hits and four RBIs on Thursday at Toronto, snapping an 0-for-15 slump.

Diaz, who turns 33 on Aug. 8, is second on the Rays with a .273 average. He leads the team with 104 hits. He has eight homers and 46 RBIs in 94 games.

He hit a club-record .330 last season to win the American League batting title.

Diaz is a career .288 hitter with 69 homers and 322 RBIs in 703 games with the Cleveland franchise (2017-18) and Rays.

--Field Level Media