SPORTS

Reyes placed on 15-day disabled list, Jays pick Jonathan Diaz as replacement

The Associated Press Published Monday, March 31, 2014 10:38PM EDT

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Jose Reyes waits to take batting practice before an exhibition baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Friday, March 7, 2014, in Dunedin, Fla. (AP / Charlie Neibergall)

Text:

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Toronto Blue Jays have placed shortstop Jose Reyes on the 15-day disabled list with hamstring tightness suffered in his first at-bat of the season.

Reyes exited Monday's season opener against the Tampa Bay Rays in the first inning and did not return. Toronto went on to lose 9-2.

The 30-year-old led off the game and was robbed of a hit on a diving catch by Rays centre-fielder Desmond Jennings, but was replaced in the field by Ryan Goins in the bottom of the first.

Reyes sat out several games during the final week of spring training with tightness in the same hamstring and missed 66 games last season because of an injured left ankle.

The Jays called up infielder Jonathan Diaz from triple-A Buffalo to replace Reyes.

Diaz, 28, appeared in five games for Boston last season, making his major-league debut on June 29 against Toronto.

The five-foot-nine, 155-pound right-handed hitter was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 12th round of the 2006 draft and has spent all but last season in the Toronto organization.