Injuries & Moves: Espinal (hamstring) starts rehab
LATEST NEWS
May 31: INF Santiago Espinal (right hamstring inflammation) begins rehab assignment
Espinal played with Single-A Dunedin Tuesday, going 2-for-3 and playing second base. He shouldn't need much longer at this point, as long as his timing feels comfortable at the plate and he passes the final tests running. Espinal should be an option for the Blue Jays at some point in the next week if all goes well.
May 31: OF Kevin Kiermaier (right lower back discomfort) returns to lineup
Exhale! Kiermaier was back in the lineup and playing center field against the Brewers on Wednesday, so there should be nothing to worry about going forward. The Blue Jays have been healthy this season, and with little depth to lean on, they'll need to stay that way.
INJURY UPDATES
10-day and 15-day IL
2B Santiago Espinal (right hamstring inflammation)
Expected return: Possibly early June
Espinal, who is on a rehab assignment with Single-A Dunedin, took three at-bats on May 30 -- collecting a single and a double. He also played second base instead of easing in with a DH day to test his hamstring, which suggests his recovery is going well and he should be an option for the Blue Jays again very soon. (Last updated: May 31)
RHP Zach Pop (right hamstring)
Expected return: Potentially June
Pop exited a game at Fenway Park on May 4 with the help of a trainer, and he was placed on the IL the next day. On May 30, he made a rehab appearance with Single-A Dunedin and pitched a scoreless inning, allowing one walk.
Pop will need a few more of these outings and he should eventually move his rehab assignment to Triple-A, but it's encouraging news as he would represent the next wave of bullpen depth again when healthy. (Last updated: May 31)
C Danny Jansen (left groin strain)
Expected return: Possibly mid-June
Jansen is considered week to week after he was placed on the 10-day injured list on May 26 with a left groin strain. The IL stint is retroactive to May 25, when he was removed from a game against the Rays after running out a ground ball in the fifth inning. He’s currently undergoing treatment. (Last updated: May 26)
60-day IL
LHP Hyun Jin Ryu (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Possibly after the All-Star break
After undergoing Tommy John surgery in June 2022, Ryu has progressed to throwing off a mound at the club's complex in Dunedin, Fla., and he was slated to throw a "two up" session on May 30 to simulate two innings.
It's a bit of a longer road back for a starter, given that Ryu's workload needs to be rebuilt, but he has lost weight and looks fantastic physically. His next step, when the Blue Jays deem him ready, will be facing hitters. (Last updated: May 30)
RHP Chad Green (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Second half of season
Green is working his way back from Tommy John surgery in May 2022, and like Ryu, he is throwing off a mound at the Blue Jays' complex in Dunedin, Fla. This progressed to facing hitters in a live BP session on May 30, which he'll likely do multiple times before the Blue Jays explore the possibility of returning to game action.
Regardless of how quickly this next step moves, Green has put himself in a very good spot to contribute to this bullpen in the second half of the season. (Last updated: May 30)
RHP Mitch White (right elbow inflammation)
Expected return: Potentially June
White, who was transferred to the 60-day IL on May 23, resumed a rehab assignment with Triple-A Buffalo on May 27. He was expected to throw around 50 pitches. White had his rehab assignment paused as he continued to deal with right shoulder fatigue stemming from his May 17 rehab outing with Triple-A Buffalo.
White returned to the mound after completing a bullpen session on May 21. When the right-hander is ready to ramp up his rehab process again, he'll need to build up innings to at least the range of three to four, as he represents some much-needed rotation depth for the Blue Jays. (Last updated: May 26)