Longoria on the way; Niemann too

3B prospect Evan Longoria is on his way to St. Petersburg and will make his major-league debut Saturday.

"I'm headed that way,'' Longoria said late Friday before boarding a flight to Tampa. "I'm very excited, obviously. I hope I'm in there tomorrow."

The Rays made the official announcement after Friday's game, placing 3B Willy Aybar on the disabled list with a left hamstring strain (the ninth Rays to go on the DL and fourth since opening day) and saying he will out at least two weeks and possibly more than a month. "It's two to we-don't-know-yet,'' executive VP Andrew Friedman said. "We have to see how he responds to the treatment and really getting some time off.'' Aybar has been bothered by the injury since spring training and had played through it.

Top pitching prospect Jeff Niemann is also coming up, and the Rays confirmed that he will make his major-league debut on Sunday, starting in place of injured Matt Garza. Niemann was 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in two starts for the Bulls after an impressive spring training.

The Rays made a somewhat controversial decision during spring training to send down Longoria with the explanation that he needed more seasoning at the Triple-A level. Though he was hitting only .200, he has gone 5-for-11 since an 0-for-14 start.

Friedman said: "Obviously we've been decimated by injuries a bit and it's not necessarily the ideal way that we wanted to call him up but we're confident in his ability to adjust at the plate and what he brings to us defensively is something that we felt was very important where we're going. We'll see what happens and reassess when Willy is ready to come back.''

Longoria did stay in the minors long enough - 13 days, two more than necessary under baseball's rules - that his eligibility for free agency, even if he doesn't return to the minors, should be delayed an extra year, until after the 2014 season.

The Rays will have to make room on the 40-man roster for Longoria before Saturday's game.

Comments

[Drew]

It's about time that Longoria's gets to show the "baseball" world what he's made of ;).

BTW, The Rays should still be ashamed of themselves for handling Longoria the way they did cause Longoria still gets "screwed" (Super 2 clause)

[RE: Drew]

Boo hoo, Drew.

[Drew's Father]

I oughta spank your butt raw, Drew.

[Michael]

Drew, if Longoria was ready for the majors, why did he start 0-14 in the minors, before comeeing arround, hitting 5-11 in his last few? Anyway, good for him, and Nememnen too. Home the moves help the Rays. I see improvements, but this could be HUGE!!

[JOe]

I agree. He needed to go down and 'prove it.' He wasn't proving it then he began to.........and maybe they would have kept him down longer but the injury to Aybar makes it necessary to bring him up now that he has earned it.

[JOe]

I agree. He needed to go down and 'prove it.' He wasn't proving it then he began to.........and maybe they would have kept him down longer but the injury to Aybar makes it necessary to bring him up now that he has earned it.

[raysfan]

awesome win tonight over the stinking O's and some exciting roster moves!

i'm almost more curious to see what niemann is made of... he's been languishing in the minors forever. it'll be interesting to see what he and longo can do.

[Timm]

My new Rays line-up(breaking up the three lefties at the top which is a bad late inning situation.)

Iwamura 2B
Crawford LF
Upton CF
Pena 1B
Longoria 3B
Gomes DH
Hayes RF
Riggins C
Bartlett SS

[brian]

yes! what a great game, and these are exciting moves. The team really seemed to take to Longoria, and I think it will give them another boost of confidence after these last two games.

[Andy]

Anyone who judges whether a player is ready for the major leagues based on his performance in 11 at bats (or 25 for that matter) doesn't really understand much about baseball.

And Longoria will rake.

[Dan]

We've seen many in the Rays org brought up too soon and fail right out of baseball; the few that were held back seemed to agree another year or two in the minors was what they really needed to stay in the majors (ain't hindsight grand?). I hope Langoria DOES have the wherewithall to be successful in the majors. But maybe a brief stay while Aybar heals (in effect spoon feeding him to the majors) would be a good thing. These HUGE personnel choices that coaches and owners (who have a vested interest in the MLB-readiness of a player) have to make are ones I am glad I don't have to make. They are emotionally difficult and draining ones to make. (PS: I like what I'm seeing of the Rays so far this year. Even .500 would be awesome. GO RAYS!!)

[MIKEY D]

I live for the Yanks!But I have Longoria in my fantasy league so goooo!!! Evan and The rays still stink!!!

[Bodog]

@Timm:

Iwamura
Crawford
Pena
Upton
Hinske
Longo
Hayes
Riggans
Bartlett

[Joe Maddumb]

This is whar my lineup would look like:

Upton CF
Crawford LF
Pena 1B
Longoria 3B
Iwamura 2B
Gomes/Floyd DH
Hinske/Haynes RF
Riggans C
Bartlett SS

AKI IS A HORRIBLE LEADOFF HITTER and does not belong in that top spot. Upton is much more suited to hit 1st Gomes can't play outfield to save his life