ST. PETERSBURG (620 WDAE) -- After undergoing season-ending heel surgery last September, the Tampa Bay Rays have been waiting for shortstop Matt Duffy to be ready to return to game action. He'll make his final step in his return Tuesday.
Manager Kevin Cash announced before Monday's game that Duffy will begin a rehab assignment with the Class-A Charlotte Stone Crabs Tuesday in Clearwater as they take on the Threshers at Spectrum Field.
"We're excited to get him out there, play four or five innings, [get] two at-bats, and kind of run the spring training process with him," Cash said.
"I know he's been working really hard here, and you could probably make the argument that he's done enough stuff here as far as getting his body in shape, but there's something to be said for getting on the field, standing out there for four, five, six innings, whatever it is and we'll do the gradual build-up."
Duffy played in just 21 games with the Rays after coming over from the San Francisco Giants at the trade deadline for pitcher Matt Moore, hitting .276/.300/.355 with a home run and seven RBI. He originally suffered his heel injury June 19 in a game against the Rays at Tropicana Field.
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