Catcher Francisco Mejía Starts Rehab Assignment, Journey Back to Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays are 11-11 since veteran catcher Francisco Mejía hit the injury list with a left knee MCL sprain back on July 20.

The Tampa Bay Rays have sent catcher Francisco Mejía on a minor league rehab assignment, the team revealed in its official transaction log.

Mejía has been out for over three weeks due to a left knee MCL sprain, which he suffered during a play at the plate in a July 20 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. He underwent an MRI and was placed on the injured list the next day.

The Tampa Bay Times' Kristie Ackert initially reported Mejía would be out three-to-six weeks, and he appears to be on track to come in on the earlier end of that timeline.

Mejía played 7.0 innings with Triple-A Durham on Sunday, going 0-for-4 with a strikeout. The 27-year-old did catch a runner stealing second, though.

According to Bulls play-by-play announcer Patrick Kinas, Mejía is tentatively scheduled to remain in Durham through at least Wednesday. If he were to get activated in time for Friday's game against the Los Angeles Angels, Mejía will have missed exactly four weeks.

MLB rehabber Francisco Mejia showing off the arm💪 pic.twitter.com/TyZot80xIu

— Durham Bulls (@DurhamBulls) August 13, 2023

Mejía was hitting .227 with five home runs, 11 doubles, 19 RBI and a .658 OPS through 50 games in 2023. However, the 5-foot-8 catcher was hitting .265 with a .790 OPS in his last 24 games before going down.

The Rays are 28-22 when Mejía plays this season, compared to 43-27 when he doesn't. Since Mejía suffered his knee injury, though, Tampa Bay is 11-11 and fell out of first place in the AL East.

Tampa Bay has at least one more series without Mejía – a three-game set against the San Francisco Giants that gets underway Monday. First pitch is scheduled for 9:45 p.m. ET.

Christian Bethancourt and René Pinto will continue to suit up at catcher until Mejía returns.

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