Duffy (heel) was reinstated from the disabled list Thursday, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Duffy wound up missing the entire 2017 season while dealing with various setbacks that stemmed from offseason surgery on his left heel. He was able to spend some time on the team's instructional league in September, and should be fully healthy by the time spring training rolls around.

Duffy (heel) logged three innings at shortstop and took three at-bats for the Rays' instructional league squad Monday, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Duffy (heel) will end up missing the entire 2017 season after enduring multiple setbacks from offseason surgery to address a left heel injury, but the infielder appears determined to get some work to ease any concerns the Rays may have about his health heading into next spring. It's expected that Duffy will work deeper in his subsequent appearances in instructional league games, with the end goal of eventually playing a full nine-inning contest. Assuming Duffy's heel presents no further complications heading into next spring, he should be given every opportunity to vie for a starting job a shortstop, even if the Rays retain the arbitration-eligible Adeiny Hechavarria.

Duffy (heel) will join the Rays' instructional league team Thursday and is scheduled to play his first game Monday in Bradenton, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Duffy will thus take his first step toward eventually stepping on a major-league field next spring after missing all of the 2017 campaign. Following his instructional league tenure, he's scheduled to also put in time in winter ball, with both stints intended to thoroughly prepare him to participate in spring training without restrictions.

Duffy (heel), who officially confirmed last Friday that he will not play before the end of the regular season, believes he'll be ready to go for the 2018 campaign, Bill Chastain of MLB.com reports. "The plan is looking toward instructional league," said Duffy, who began the season on the disabled list while trying to recover from Achilles surgery and later had a second surgery. "The goal is to not have any reservations going into Spring Training, and having as normal an offseason as possible."

EDGE Analysis

Duffy had come into spring training last March with high expectations following September 2016 heel surgery, as he'd figured on being ready to play by the middle of that month and serve as the team's everyday starting shortstop. However, issues started to crop up by late March and led to Duffy's recovery undergoing a series of fits and starts over the next several months. The 26-year-old has participated in fielding drills and batting practice at various points during his rehab, but he was only able to get in a total of eight at-bats over three games with High-A Charlotte during 2017 before being shut down. A late-June follow-up procedure that removed a calcium deposit from the heel appears to have been pivotal to finally eliminating the discomfort Duffy had persistently felt, and he's now set to test himself during both instructional league and winter ball over the coming months.

Duffy (heel) took ground balls and batting practice Monday afternoon, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports. "A good sign," manager Kevin Cash said. "He looked the part. Didn't see any restrictions."

EDGE Analysis

There is no longer hope for Duffy taking the field this season, so Cash's statement is in reference to the shortstop building some momentum heading into the offseason. The 26-year-old is scheduled to play in both instructional league and winter ball during the next few months in the hopes of preparing for what the team and Duffy hope is a spring training without restrictions in 2018.

Duffy (heel) is performing limited baseball activities but doesn't have a timetable for a return to game action, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

The shortstop is starting to run out of time to log some games at the major-league level in 2017, as he's still unable to return to the minor-league rehab assignment he had to abandon back in mid-May. Duffy underwent a procedure on June 23 that removed a calcium deposit from his surgically repaired heel, and while that appeared to relieve a great deal of his discomfort, he's apparently not yet comfortable enough to test himself in game conditions.

Duffy (heel) is expected to resume baseball activities when the Rays return from their current road trip on July 21, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

It would be a momentous development for the oft-injured infielder, whose recovery has been a series of fits and starts. Duffy underwent a procedure on June 23 that removed a calcium deposit from his injured heel and was expected to potentially eliminate the persistent discomfort he'd been experiencing. Given the latest development, it appears that the surgery may have been pivotal to getting Duffy's rehab back on the right track.

Manager Kevin Cash said Duffy underwent an operation to remove a calcium deposit from his injured heel this week, Roger Mooney of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Trainers believe this is what was causing Duffy's lingering heel pain, though only time will tell as to the effectiveness of the procedure. The veteran infielder was moved to the 60-day DL earlier this month, an indication he may not be back until after the All-Star break at the earliest. Taylor Featherston will continue seeing playing time in his absence.

Duffy (heel) has been transferred to the 60-day disabled list Friday.

EDGE Analysis

Moving Duffy to the 60-day DL provides the Rays with another spot on the 40-man roster, which will be used to accommodate recently acquired Taylor Featherston. Duffy's heel injury has continued to linger even after beginning fielding drills and batting practice, as the 26-year-old has been unable to progress to a rehab assignment in the past few weeks. With the addition of Featherston, signs point toward Duffy needing more time to recover from his heel injury that required surgery last September.

Manager Kevin Cash said that there's "definite concern" about Duffy's heel, Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times reports.

EDGE Analysis

Per Cash, Duffy's heel continues to bother him despite taking numerous measures to ease his way through the rehab process. The embattled infielder underwent surgery back in September of last season, and despite rumors of him being available at the beginning of spring training even, he's been unable to get back into game action of any capacity since the operation. Duffy has progressed to running, fielding and taking batting practice, although it seems like problems are still arising that are keeping him from heading out on a rehab assignment. More information on the topic should come forth once he makes progress again, but things are looking somewhat bleak at the moment for Duffy.