Blue Jays reinstate Happ; Kawasaki to paternity list

ST. PETERSBURG -- The Blue Jays on Friday reinstated left-hander J.A. Happ from the bereavement list and placed shortstop Munenori Kawasaki on the paternity list in a corresponding roster move.

Happ, scheduled to start Saturday against the Rays, was placed on the bereavement list following his Monday start against the Athletics because his grandfather recently passed away. The southpaw is 2-2 with a 5.11 ERA in nine starts this season.

Happ returned on Aug. 7 from a three-month stint on the disabled list after being struck in the head by a line drive off the bat of Rays outfielder Desmond Jennings on May 7 at Tropicana Field. He wasn't with the team before Friday's game, but he'll return Saturday to the same mound where his season was derailed by the knee injury he sustained as he fell to the turf.

Rays manager Joe Maddon said he was looking forward to seeing Happ back on the mound, especially after watching right-hander Alex Cobb return to form Thursday night following a similar incident.

"It's good for [Happ]. It's the same thing Cobber did yesterday. You have to start riding the horse again," Maddon said. "It's horrible. I wish him well. It's something he has to do for himself, and it's tough."

As for Kawasaki, he can remain on the paternity list for a maximum of three days, and manager John Gibbons expected Kawasaki would use all three of them as he traveled back to Toronto. The 32-year-old, recently recalled for his third stint with the Jays, is hitting .205 with one homer and 20 RBIs in 72 games this season.