Baseball Update: Approval for Alejandro Kirk's Involvement, Intensified Training for George Springer
The Toronto Blue Jays are navigating a series of injuries to key players, with the return of all-star catcher Alejandro Kirk on the horizon and the status of Tyler Heineman and George Springer uncertain.
Kirk, who has been a significant contributor this season with a .304 batting average and a .775 OPS, suffered a concussion on July 26 after being hit by a foul tip. He missed seven games but has now been reinstated and is set to return to the Blue Jays starting Sunday, August 3, after playing rehab games with Triple-A Buffalo.
During his rehab assignment, Kirk caught seven innings and picked a runner off third base. In his first game with the Bisons, he went 1-for-3 with a two-run single.
Tyler Heineman, who took over catching duties during Kirk’s absence, was removed from a game out of precaution for a possible head injury but is not currently showing concussion symptoms. The Blue Jays are monitoring his status, and Ali Sanchez has been used as a backup catcher in his place.
Heineman had previously missed a week and a half with a concussion in late May.
George Springer, the Jays' home run leader, sustained a concussion on July 28 from a Kade Strowd fastball. There is no reported new update on his concussion status. The search results do not provide recent information on him having a concussion or injury akin to those of Kirk or Heineman.
The Blue Jays have struggled in Kirk's absence, losing four straight games, allowing a total of 40 runs, while he was out of the line-up. Bo Bichette, however, has been a shining light, setting a club record with nine straight hits on July 27 and 28. Over his last 22 games, Bichette is hitting .402 with 13 doubles, 17 RBIs, and an on-base-plus-slugging percentage of 1.025. He currently leads the American League in hits in each of his last two full, healthy seasons.
The Jays hope to activate Springer during a three-game road series against the Colorado Rockies starting on Monday night. If he returns, he could join the team on Wednesday, but this would be a day game in Denver after a Bisons night game in Worcester, Mass.
The likeliest scenario for Springer's return is for a series against the Dodgers starting Friday in Los Angeles.
Bichette had three hits on Saturday, increasing his season total to 137, the most in the major leagues. His batting average is now .297.
As the Blue Jays await the return of Springer and monitor the progress of Heineman, the team will be hopeful that their key players can return to full health and help propel them towards the playoffs.
[1] https://www.mlb.com/blue-jays/news/alejandro-kirk-reinstated-from-il-to-play-for-triple-a-buffalo-bisons [2] https://www.mlb.com/news/alejandro-kirk-reinstated-from-il-to-play-for-triple-a-buffalo-bisons/c-344619204 [3] https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-activating-alejandro-kirk-sunday-after-concussion/ [4] https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/blue-jays-place-tyler-heineman-7-day-il-head-injury/ [5] https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/_/name/tor/toronto-blue-jays/roster
- The Toronto Blue Jays are eagerly anticipating the return of key players from injuries, with the reinstatement of Alejandro Kirk looming on Sunday, August 3, after he successful completed a rehab assignment in Triple-A Buffalo. [1][3]
- In the meantime, the Blue Jays have been grappling with the health concerns of Tyler Heineman and George Springer, with Heineman currently being monitored for a possible head injury and Springer still without a new update on his concussion status. [1][4]
- As the Jays focus on players' health, Bo Bichette continues to shine, setting a club record with nine straight hits and currently leading the American League in hits for the second consecutive season. [2]
- Despite Kirk's absence, the Blue Jays have struggled recently, losing four consecutive games and allowing a total of 40 runs. The team is hoping that the return of Springer and the recovery of Heineman will help bolster their roster and propel them towards the playoffs. [5]
