Desmond Jennings dealing with sore groin
By Hayden Kane
The Tampa Bay Rays enter Sunday’s game with the New York Yankees coming off a night that they absolutely beat and battered their divisional foes by a final score of 16-1. While it is a welcome sight in Tampa Bay that their offense is coming to life, there is still a question mark for their lineup in the next few days.
Outfielder Desmond Jennings was held out of the lineup with a sore groin on Saturday night, something he has been dealing with for the last few days. According to manager Joe Maddon, Jennings is still available off the bench if he continues to be held out of the lineup (quotes from Bill Chastain of MLB.com):
"He’s the same today, coming off the bench, and we’ll probably have to pinch-run for him again…It’s kind of like a sore groin area. We don’t think it’s anything serious, but I don’t want to push him right now, especially on this turf.”"
According to Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune, Jennings does not seem to think it is serious either and had hoped to get in the lineup Sunday against the New York Yankees.
#rays Jennings said groin not too much of an issue. Came to park everyday expecting to play. He's going to test it this morning.
— Roger Mooney (@RogerMooney50) April 20, 2014
Jennings was held out of the starting lineup once again, however, a precautionary measure that seems appropriate for this time of the season. So far in 2014 Jennings is batting .264/.391/.434 in 17 games.