Rays' Austin Meadows: Dealing with oblique issue

Manager Kevin Cash said Wednesday that Meadows is dealing with a "minor" oblique issue, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports. The outfielder is expected to return to the Rays' Grapefruit League lineup Thursday against Atlanta or Friday against Boston.

The injury has kept Meadows out of action since Sunday, but it doesn't appear to be anything significant enough to jeopardize his availability for Opening Day. Meadows is coming off a strong 2021 season in which hit 27 homers while producing a career-high 106 RBI and drawing 59 walks.