X-rays on Williamson's left hand came back negative following his removal from Friday's game against the Angels, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Williamson took a 98.6 mph sinker off his left hand in the sixth inning of Friday's contest, but he seemingly escaped the incident without any severe damage. Manager Kevin Cash added that the 25-year-old could play Saturday, though the Rays may err on the side of caution and give him a day off to recover.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: Exits after HBP
Rotowire
Williamson was removed from Friday's game against the Angels after getting hit on the hand by a pitch, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
Williamson had been making his return from a back strain that sent him to the injured list last week, but he was pulled from Friday's contest immediately after taking a 98.6 mph sinker off his left hand in the sixth inning. He'll presumably head in for X-rays to determine whether he suffered a fracture, and Tampa Bay may have more information on his status after the game.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: Activated from injured list
Rotowire
The Rays activated Williamson (back) from the 10-day injured list Friday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
With Williamson returning from his lower-back strain, Carson Williams is being sent back to Triple-A Durham. Williamson last played May 12 and has slashed .268/.349/.339 with zero homers, 14 RBI, 19 runs scored, four stolen bases and a 14:24 BB:K across 127 plate appearances this season while mainly seeing action at second base.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: Shelved with back strain
Rotowire
Tampa Bay placed Williamson on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a low back strain, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Williamson's stint on the IL will be retroactive to Sunday, as he hadn't played since Friday while tending to the back injury. Tampa Bay added Oliver Dunn to the 26-man active roster in a corresponding move to bolster their infield depth, but Carson Williams is the most likely candidate to serve as Williamson's replacement as the right-handed-hitting option of a platoon at second base with Richie Palacios.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: Sitting after six straight starts
Rotowire
Williamson is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Blue Jays.
Williamson will retreat to the bench after he had started in each of the Rays' last six games. Five of those starts came against left-handed pitching, so despite his recent uptick in playing time, Williamson still appears to be viewed primarily as a platoon partner for the left-handed-hitting Richie Palacios at second base.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: On bench for second straight
Rotowire
Williamson is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Guardians, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.
After making five consecutive starts in the middle infield, Williamson now finds himself on the bench for the second straight game, with both absences coming while the Rays have faced right-handed pitchers. Williamson looks like he'll continue to share second base with Richie Palacios until Gavin Lux (shoulder/ankle) is cleared to return from the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: Fading into platoon role
Rotowire
Williamson will start at second base and bat sixth in Wednesday's game against the Reds, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
Williamson had been on the bench for each of the last four games while the Rays faced right-handed starting pitchers, but he'll slot back into the lineup at the keystone as lefty Brandon Williamson takes the hill for the Reds. The Rays had previously been running more of a timeshare at second base through the first few weeks of the season, but Williamson since appears to have moved into the short side of a platoon at the position with the left-handed-hitting Richie Palacios.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: Drives in three runs Tuesday
Rotowire
Williamson went 2-for-3 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored during the Rays' 8-5 win over the White Sox on Tuesday.
Williamson helped give the Rays a 3-0 lead in the first inning after his sacrifice bunt brought two of his teammates home (one scored on an error), before logging RBI doubles in the third and seventh. It was his first multi-RBI game of the season and fourth game with at least two hits, with his last taking place April 3 against the Twins. Williamson has opened the season slashing .271/.340/.354 with two steals, 11 runs scored and six RBI across 54 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: Heading to bench Sunday
Rotowire
Williamson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Yankees.
Williamson had started 10 of the past 11 games, but he'll take a seat Sunday while Taylor Walls and Richie Palacios form the Rays' middle-infield tandem. Once Gavin Lux (shoulder) is cleared to return from the injured list, Williamson could move into a utility role.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: Remaining in starting nine
Rotowire
Williamson will start at second base and bat eighth in Monday's game against the Cubs, Ryan Bass of Rays.tv reports.
After being activated from the injured list, Taylor Walls (oblique) will cover shortstop in the Rays' home opener, but Williamson will remain in the lineup for a seventh straight game while shifting over to the keystone. Through his first nine games with the Rays, Williamson is hitting .281, but he's not offering much aid in other categories (zero home runs, one steal, seven runs and three RBI). Even so, Williamson's slick fielding and ability to hit for contact may be enough for him to stick around in a near-everyday role in the Tampa Bay middle infield.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: Idle against righty
Rotowire
Williamson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.
The 25-year-old was part of the Opening Day lineup against lefty Matthew Liberatore, but he's been held out of the starting nine for two straight games versus right-handers. Williamson will handle the short side of a platoon at second base with Richie Palacios until the Rays get Gavin Lux (shoulder) back from the injured list.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: Sitting Saturday
Rotowire
Williamson is not in Tampa Bay's starting lineup against St. Louis on Saturday.
Williamson is coming off a strong performance against the Cardinals on Thursday, when he went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. He'll be on the bench to open Saturday's game while Richie Palacios starts at second base and bats eighth.
... See More... See Less
Rays' Ben Williamson: Turning heads in camp
Rotowire
Williamson has impressed manager Kevin Cash this spring with his ability to handle second base and shortstop in addition to his burgeoning power, Ryan Bass of FanDuel Sports Network Sun reports.
"The bat has really come to life," Cash said of Williamson. "He's a big, strong guy and the power has kind of showed up here. He's had some big at-bats and drives the ball well, so it looks like he can really help us." Acquired this offseason from Seattle, Williamson is hitting .375 with two home runs, two steals and a 5:4 K:BB in 36 plate appearances this spring. While the righty-hitting Williamson figures to be in the lineup against lefties, his strong spring and quality defense at multiple positions opens the door for him to find work against righties as well.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Ben Williamson: Records fifth steal
Rotowire
Williamson went 1-for-4 with one RBI and one stolen base in Saturday's 7-2 win over the Angels.
Williamson has started to make a larger impact on the basepaths with three steals over his last six games. He's still not doing much else, though -- during that span, he's gone 5-for-20 (.250) with two RBI, one walk and no extra-base hits. That's right in line with his production all year, as he's batting .254 but he has a poor .598 OPS with five steals, one home run, 21 RBI and 35 runs scored as a fixture at the bottom of the Mariners' lineup.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Ben Williamson: Logs steal in loss
Rotowire
Williamson went 2-for-3 with a stolen base in Monday's 6-0 loss to the Brewers.
Williamson had gone 0-for-8 over his previous three games, and this was just his second multi-hit effort in July. The rookie third baseman continues to earn his playing time through steady defense rather than big contributions on offense. For the season, he's slashing .259/.293/.319 with one home run, 19 RBI, 35 runs scored and three steals across 76 contests, giving him minimal upside as a contact hitter with little pop at the bottom of the order.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Ben Williamson: Day off Thursday
Rotowire
Williamson isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.
Williamson will take a seat Thursday after collecting a base hit in each of the first two games of the series. Miles Mastrobuoni will fill in as Seattle's third baseman and bat ninth.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Ben Williamson: Idle Sunday
Rotowire
Williamson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Pirates.
Miles Mastrobuoni will get the nod at third base while Williamson heads to the bench for the series finale. The rookie had started in each of the Mariners' previous five games, going 4-for-14 with three doubles, two walks, two runs and two RBI.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Ben Williamson: Absent from Saturday's lineup
Rotowire
Williamson is not in Seattle's starting lineup against Texas on Saturday.
Miles Mastrobuoni will start at the keystone and bat eighth while Williamson begins Saturday's game on the bench. Williamson has gone 6-for-18 (.333) with four runs scored over his last five starts.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Ben Williamson: On bench Sunday
Rotowire
Williamson is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cubs.
Williamson started the previous five games but will hit the bench Sunday after going 3-for-17 during that stretch. Miles Mastrobuoni will step in at the hot corner and bat ninth in the series finale at Chicago.
... See More... See Less
Mariners' Ben Williamson: Returns to lineup Tuesday
Rotowire
Williamson (back) is back in the lineup and batting eighth for Tuesday's game against the Angels.
Williamson was scratched from the lineup Sunday against the Marlins due to back spasms, and Seattle had an off day Monday. With Dylan Moore (hip) placed on the 10-day IL earlier Tuesday, Williamson should see continued regular playing time. The rookie third baseman is slashing .310/.356/.429 with one home run, seven RBI, 10 runs scored and a 3:8 BB:K across his first 45 big-league plate appearances.
