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Roger Mooney

Roger Mooney covers the Tampa Bay Rays for The Tampa Tribune, TBO.com and News Channel 8. He has covered the Rays since their first season in 1998, including 11 years for the Bradenton Herald. Roger has also covered Florida, South Florida and Florida State football, the Bucs and the Lightning.

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Aybar should be ready for Opening Day

Posted Mar 28, 2010 by Roger Mooney

Updated Mar 28, 2010 at 02:43 PM

ROGER MOONEY
PORT CHARLOTTE Willy Aybar played first base in a minor league intrasquad game this morning, and Rays manager Joe Maddon said the infielder/DH should be ready for the start of the season.

Aybar, who tested his strained left hamstring by batting in a minor league game Saturday, could play first base Monday against the Red Sox in Fort Myers as long as his hamstring feels fine when he reports to Charlotte Sports Park on Monday afternoon.

Catcher Dioner Navarro had four at-bats in the same game, his first action since bruising a nerve in his left shin March 20 while blocking home plate.

Navarro will catch in a minor league game Monday and is expected to catch for the Rays on Tuesday against visiting the Red Sox.

There was never any doubt Navarro would be ready to start the season.

Aybar’s status was called into question last Thursday when Maddon informed us of his injury and floated the possibility his hamstring coupled with a lack of playing time this spring could impact Opening Day.

But after watching Aybar play Sunday, Maddon said he believed both players will be ready for Opening Day.

“Willy and Navi, they should be fine,” Maddon said. “I see them being ready to go.”

Matt Joyce (strained right elbow) played right field in a minor league intrasquad game Sunday but did not throw. Maddon said he would know by Tuesday if Joyce will be healthy enough to start the season, but he didn’t sound too hopeful.