Wilson Ramos, Brad Boxberger Expect to Return in Late June

The Tampa Bay Rays know that Wilson Ramos and Brad Boxberger will be returning at some point soon. That date has gotten a little clearer.

At some point, in the somewhat near future, the Tampa Bay Rays will be getting reinforcements. Both Wilson Ramos and Brad Boxberger will be back, helping to solidify both the catcher position and the bullpen respectively. The only question has been when that will happen.

Well, the picture has begun to clear up a bit. Boxberger is set to head out for his rehab today, heading out to the Charlotte Stone Crabs. There, he is expected to have six appearances over the next three weeks, and then will aim for a return to the Rays later this month.

Likewise, Ramos will be heading out for his rehab assignment soon. After his final appearance in extended Spring Training, Ramos will be heading out on a 20 day rehab assignment of his own. Provided that he does not have any setbacks, Ramos will also be back in late June, likely on the 23rd or 24th.

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The return of both Boxberger and Ramos will certainly be a boost for the Rays going forward. The bullpen has been a sore spot throughout most of the year, and getting Boxberger back will help solve some of those problems. Tampa Bay will have their lockdown setup man back, helping to shorten the game.

Ramos could well have a similar impact upon the lineup. While the Rays are still hitting home runs and have been solid offensively, he will be an upgrade at the catcher position. Even an average season from Ramos would be enough to rank amongst the best seasons of any Rays catcher in franchise history. And if he can replicate his performance last year…

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Reinforcements are coming. Both Wilson Ramos and Brad Boxberger should be making their 2017 debuts by the end of the month.