For Rays’ Vidal Brujan, an eventful start to big-league career

ST. PETERSBURG — Infielder Vidal Brujan didn’t have to go anywhere between making his debut as the 27th man in Wednesday’s doubleheader and being formally recalled by the Rays on Friday, with Mike Brosseau placed on the injured list.

But there still was a lot to unpack.

Brujan, 23, got the ball from his first hit, an RBI single against the Indians in his first big-league at-bat, with plans to put it in a case in the house he is having built in his native Dominican Republic. Brujan was the 19th Ray to get a hit in his first career plate appearance.

He got to relive the moment afterward on the phone with his mom, who was even more emotional than with the news of his initial callup. “She was really going crazy,’' Brujan said, via team interpreter Manny Navarro. “She was crying. She wasn’t able to control her emotions.’' (Brujan’s father died in 2018 at age 52.)

Brujan got the full first-hit treatment from his teammates, with a shower of beer and other available liquids. “You name it, they put it all over me,’' he said.

And he received about 2,000 congratulatory messages, between texts and social media, including from big-leaguers such as Miguel Sano, Robinson Cano (currently suspended), Amed Rosario and Franmil Reyes. “Everyone was very happy for me,’' he said.

While Brujan said he was honored to have been chosen to play in Sunday’s All-Star Futures Game in Denver, he said being with the Rays in the majors is better.

Medical matters

Brosseau’s right oblique “grabbed” him as he was making a throw in the fifth inning of Wednesday’s second game, and manager Kevin Cash said Friday that he “kind of kicked myself” for not taking Brosseau out then. The diagnosis is a strain, but the Rays feel they caught it in time and hope Brosseau, who seemed likely to be sent down to Triple A to make room for Brujan, is out only 10-14 days. ... Reliever Ryan Thompson, sidelined since June 27 with right-shoulder inflammation, is still feeling some discomfort and will be shut down from throwing for a few days. “See if we can pick it back up on Sunday, see how he feels,’' Cash said. … Starter Chris Archer (forearm) and reliever Oliver Drake (flexor tendon) threw to hitters on Wednesday in Port Charlotte for the second time, with one more session likely before advancing to minor-league games and a rehab assignment. “All was good, velocities were good, they seem to be in good spirits,’' Cash said.

Sunday night spotlight

The Rays will make their first appearance in seven years on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball as their Aug. 1 home game against the Red Sox was chosen for the national broadcast. The Rays last played on Sunday night on July 6, 2014, at Detroit. Their last time on the Sunday night stage from the Trop was July 17, 2011, against Boston, in a game the Red Sox won 1-0 in 16 innings. This is their 10th appearance in 24 seasons.

Miscellany

• Top prospect Wander Franco’s eight-game hitting streak ended Friday with an 0-for-5, four-strikeout night against the Blue Jays.

• Lefty Ryan Yarbrough will face the Jays on Saturday for a second straight outing. He will be making his eighth start in his past nine outings, and 13th of the season, with a 3-3, 4.67 record.

• All-Star catcher Mike Zunino was hit on the left hand in his third-inning at-bat, and first baseman Ji-Man Choi was hit on his left knee in the fourth. Both stayed in the game.

• Cash gave an extended shoutout to the Lightning and coach Jon Cooper for winning back-to-back Stanley Cups: “Pretty remarkable what the Lightning have done (and) put together, and they’re at the top of their game and doing special things.’'

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