Yandy Diaz Back With Rays, Still Upset Over Cuban Passport Delays
In this story:
MIAMI, Fla. — Yandy Diaz was back in the Tampa Bay Rays clubhouse on Friday, and back in the starting lineup too after missing the recent three-game series in Toronto because of passport issue.
Diaz had played in all 40 Rays games this season, so he wasn't happy about missing those three games. He said they've been trying to get his Cuban passport renewed since the spring, but the slow-moving wheels of government in Cuba necessitated some unwanted time off.
“In spring training, we did whatever we needed to do to get a passport and we didn’t know if it was going to be here in time,'' Diaz said through interpreter Eddie Rodriguez in the Rays clubhouse at loanDepot Park in Miami before the Rays' game with the Miami Marlins. “This is something that’s out of my hands, and I just want to start over today.
“It was simply that my passport was not on time. Now I just have to wait until July until I can get a passport. I’m just wishing for it to be here by July. I just have to wait. ''
Diaz, 33, was born in Cuba, but defected in 2013 to the Dominican Republic after two failed attempts where he was arrested. He signed with the Cleveland Indians in 2014. He made his major-league debut with Cleveland but was traded to Tampa Bay in December of 2018. He is hte longest-tenured Rays player.
The Rays do make another trip to Toronto, but it's not until the final week in September on the Rays' last road trip of the year. Diaz is hoping there are no issues by then.
Diaz is hitting .238 this season with six home runs and 20 RBIs as the full-time designated hitter.
"I'm excited to have him back, For sure,'' Rays manager Kevin Cash said of Diaz. "We were really excited to get Josh back (on Thursday), and I think this is a closer version of the lineup that we envisioned coming out of spring training.
"Yandy's been trending in the right direction. He's got a little extra rest now under his belt, so he should feel fresh. And what Josh did gives us a lot of yesterday, gives us a lot of optimism about the potential of this offense scoring some more runs.''
Related stories on Rays baseball
- TOM BREW COLUMN: Tampa Bay has a major-league best 13 interleague wins so far, and it's kept them in contact at least in the American League East race. They play three more this weekend at Miami, and they need to do some damage against the Marlins' three right-handed starters. CLICK HERE
- RAYS-MARLINS GAMEDAY PREVIEW: The Tampa Bay Rays start a three-game series with the Miami Marlins on Friday night, with Yandy Diaz back in the lineup and Josh Lowe ready to play his second straight game. Taj Bradley gets the start for the Rays. Here's your lineups, and lots of newsy nuggets. CLICK HERE
- RAYS BEAT JAYS 8-3 (Thurs.): Josh Lowe was back in the Tampa Bay lineup on Thursday for the first time since Opening Day. He had three hits, including a home run, in the Rays' 8-3 win over Toronto. Teammate Brandon Lowe had three hits as well, including two homers and 4 RBIs. CLICK HERE
- SCHEDULE NIGHTMARE: Finding parking spaces for Tampa Bay Rays fans AND Tampa Bay Buccaneers rooters on the same day is going to be a challenge on Sunday, Sept. 21. Both teams will play at the same time at stadiums across the street from each other on Dale Mabry Highway. CLICK HERE
Tom Brew is the publisher of ''Tampa Bay Rays on SI'' and has been with the Sports Illustrated platform since 2019. He has worked at some of America's finest newspapers, including the Tampa Bay Times, Indianapolis Star and South Florida Sun-Sentinel. He owns eight sites on the "On SI'' network and has written four books.
Follow tombrewsports