Curt Casali Injury: Updates on Rays Catcher's Hamstring and Return

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Curt Casali injured his hamstring Tuesday night while he rounded the bases after hitting a home run. The team placed the catcher on the 15-day disabled list with a hamstring strain. 

Continue for updates.

---

Casali Tweaks Hamstring on HR

Wednesday, Aug. 26

The Rays announced that they are recalling J.P. Arencibia to take Casali's spot on the roster. 

Rays manager Kevin Cash noted after the game that Casali would be looked at by doctors Wednesday, via Bill Chastain of MLB.com, while the Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com) reported that he would have an MRI on the hamstring.

MLB.com provided video of the infamous home run trot. 

"It was weird, it was really weird," Casali told Chastain. "... I felt fine going to first base. I was going pretty fast, and it just started getting tight on me as soon as I hit the bag; it didn't go very good going around the bases."

He added, "I didn't want to injure it worse than it already was. I tried to take it as slow as I could. I knew I had to get around the bases somehow. Just unfortunate timing."

Bad timing, indeed. Casali has been one of Tampa Bay's hottest hitters over the past month, with nine homers since the All-Star break. For the season, he's hitting .238 with 10 home runs and 18 RBI.

His hot streak has vaulted him past Rene Rivera on the depth chart as the Rays linger in the AL wild-card chase, just 2.5 games in back of the Texas Rangers. Losing Casali's power production at this time of the year is a big setback, especially if he's forced to miss significant time. Rivera (.188, five home runs, 26 RBI) has really struggled at the dish this season.