Rays CF Kiermaier says hip injury may end regular season

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays center fielder Kevin Kiermaier admits he could miss the rest of the regular season with a left hip injury after being moved to the 60-day injured list on Saturday.

Kiermaier, a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder, hasn't played since July 9. He is hitting .228 with seven homers, 22 RBIs with six stolen bases in 63 games this year.

“Yeah, it is (tough to grasp),” Kiermaier said. “It hasn't really hit me just yet. ... For right now I'm kind of in that limbo, in-between period but I think we will all know more here shortly.”

The earliest he could return from the IL is September. Kiermaier is scheduled to see a specialist in Nashville after the All-Star break. A surgical procedure hasn't been ruled out.

“Just got to keep everything under wraps until a decision is made, and then we'll go from there,” Kiermaier said.

The Kiermaier move cleared a roster spot for second baseman Brandon Lowe, who was reinstared from the 60-day IL after being out since mid-May due to a lower-back injury,

“I’m not going to be back anytime soon, so this was the move that needed to be made and I totally understand, agree with it “ Kiermaier said.

Lowe, who had 39 homers and 99 RBIs last year, hit .212 with five homers and 12 RBIs in 32 games this year before going on the IL.

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