Rays place LHP Jeffrey Springs on COVID-IL, reinstate IF Yandy Diaz

The Rays have placed left-handed pitcher Jeffrey Springs on the COVID-related injury list due to a close contact situation, per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times. He’ll swap places with Yandy Diaz, who comes off the COVID-IL after just a day.

The virus seems to be floating around the Rays team, as some staff members have tested positive in recent days. That was followed by catcher Francisco Mejia testing positive on Friday. 

Diaz was placed on the injured list Saturday after experiencing some symptoms. However, he must have tested negative due to his quick return.

As for Springs, the 29-year-old is off to a great start this year. He’s thrown seven scoreless innings out of the bullpen for the Rays, with a 34.6% strikeout rate and 11.5% walk rate. Until he returns, the club will have Brooks Raley, Colin Poche and Jalen Beeks as the available lefties in their bullpen.

Diaz is off to a fairly standard start to the year for him, hitting for contact but not a lot of power. His .275/.383/.325 line adds up to a 127 wRC+, with his 10.6% strikeout rate well below his career rate of 16.2%, which was already better than league average.