Logan Forsythe Injury: Updates on Rays 2B's Shoulder and Return

Versatile Tampa Bay Rays infielder Logan Forsythe suffered an apparent shoulder injury Friday. However, he's ready to make his return. 

Continue for updates.

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Forsythe in Lineup vs. White Sox

Sunday, April 17

The Rays confirmed Forsythe is batting first and playing second base against Chicago.

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Versatile Forsythe Crucial to Rays Offense 

Used largely as a utility player in his first four years, Forsythe had a breakout season with the Rays in 2015. He set career highs in games played (153), doubles (33), home runs (17), batting average (.289), on-base percentage (.359), slugging percentage (.444) and wins above replacement (4.1), per FanGraphs.

Forsythe's offensive performance was huge for a Rays team that finished 25th in runs scored. Tampa Bay's lineup doesn't have the kind of depth that will allow it to win a lot of slugfests. Evan Longoria is still a solid hitter, but his peak is a thing of the past.

The American League East features four of MLB's best offenses in the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees. The Rays, who entered Friday's game with a 3-6 record, are already off to a slow start, having scored just 24 runs in their first nine games. 

The Rays are going to succeed on the strength of their pitching and defense, but they need their key hitters, including Forsythe, to be at the top of their games.