ST. PETERSBURG -- Everyone expects Toronto's prized prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to eventually reach Tropicana Field -- along with all the other Major League ballparks -- but his Monday visit to the Rays' home park was purely to check in with the Blue Jays as he settles into his Florida rehabilitation program.
Guerrero, the No. 2 prospect in baseball according to MLB Pipeline, suffered a strained patellar tendon in his left knee on Wednesday while playing with Double-A New Hampshire. He's expected to miss at least four weeks.
Before the Blue Jays met the Rays, Guerrero said he's optimistic about a quick return to action. He seemed poised for a promotion to Triple-A after posting a .407/.457/.667 slash line, along with 11 home runs and 55 RBIs in 53 games with New Hampshire.
"Hopefully, I'll be on the field sooner rather than later,'' Guerrero said through an interpreter. "Just being out there and cheering for my teammates, that's the only thing I can do until I'm 100 percent.
"You always like to play. You want to be out there. But I can't control that I'm hurt now.''
Guerrero said he has been pleased -- but not surprised -- by his production with New Hampshire.
"I don't think when somebody is doing well on the field that you're surprised, because you have an offseason [to prepare],'' Guerrero said. "You get prepared to be good and that's what I did. I came prepared to play and thank God everything was going great.
"I'm not frustrated at all. Stuff happens that you can't control. I think it was meant to happen and it happened to me. I'm just going to go out there and try to be ready.''
Travis returns to lineup
Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis, who missed the previous two games with a sore right knee after an outfield collision with Kevin Pillar, was back in the lineup and batting ninth.
"He went out and tested it and he's good,'' Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "It's good news. [He missed] only a couple of days.''
Injury updates
• Third baseman Josh Donaldson worked out at the club's extended spring training complex in Dunedin, Fla., taking batting practice off live pitching. He has done some baserunning, but his sore left calf has remained tender.
Donaldson has been out since May 28 and is eligible to come off the disabled list, but Gibbons isn't certain when Donaldson will return.
"We're just going day by day,'' Gibbons said. "He feels better, but he's not quite comfortable [enough].''
• Right-hander Marcus Stroman, out since May 11 with a right shoulder injury, is scheduled to pitch "about four innings'' for Class A Advanced Dunedin in Wednesday night's Florida State League home game against Port Charlotte. Stroman pitched three innings in a simulated game on Friday.
• Gibbons said left fielder Steve Pearce is scheduled to face live pitching this week for the first time since being placed on the DL with a strained left oblique. He has been out since May 2. If all goes well, Pearce could be on a rehabilitation assignment by the end of the week.
Guilmet added
Right-hander Preston Guilmet, acquired off waivers from the Cardinals, was officially added to the roster. Guilmet is making his third tour of duty with the Blue Jays, after making his MLB debut in 2013 and being claimed off waivers by Toronto in '14.
After spending 2017 with the Yakult Swallows of the Japanese Central League, Guilmet made two MLB appearances with the Cardinals this season, but saw most of his success at Triple-A Memphis (0.93 ERA in 29 innings, along with 35 strikeouts and just five walks).
"Any time there's a team out there to give you an opportunity, it's good news,'' Guilmet said. "I heard Toronto and I said, 'I've been there before … this will be fun.' I'm happy to be here. I'm not sure [of my role]. I got here, played a little catch and I'm ready to go.''
Draft pick signs
San Jacinto (Texas) Junior College right-hander Mike Pascoe, the Blue Jays' 24th-round pick in this year's Draft, received a $100,000 signing bonus. Pascoe, whose fastball hits the mid-90s, helped his team to the Junior College World Series. He bypassed a scholarship offer to St. John's.