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Good News For Rays, Joyce's Injury Not Serious

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By MARC LANCASTER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 8, 2009

FORT MYERS - The Rays expect Matt Joyce back on the field this week, executive vice president Armwood Highsaid Sunday, quelling fears that the Armwood High product might have a serious problem with his right leg.
Friedman said the outfielder, who has been sidelined all spring by a mysterious injury which has been alternately described as a calf or ankle problem, is suffering from tendinitis.

"Through our research and studies, we determined it's something that's been there for a long time and is just really presenting itself with symptoms," Friedman said.

At this point, the condition isn't serious, and Friedman said the Rays expect Joyce to be on the field going through drills within the next few days. The Rays expect that Joyce will ultimately build up to game action during spring training.

"Right now the plan of attack is to support the ankle and to work him into playing shape. We're cautiously optimistic that this is behind us, but in the event that it flares back up and prevents him from playing, we're going to have to explore other courses of action."

Friedman described surgery as the "least likely" scenario for the Tampa native, and the Rays hope and believe that won't be necessary.

"I think all of us kind of feared that it may be something worse, so it was very good news," said Friedman. "That said, we're not completely out of the woods yet. We're cautiously optimistic that we'll be able to get through it, but it's by no means a certainty."

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