DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Steve Pearce is one step closer to being ready for Opening Day after he made his first spring appearance in left field during a 16-0 victory over the Canada Junior National Team on Saturday afternoon.
Pearce played five innings in left and didn't see much action, but he caught a lazy fly ball and fielded a clean single. He also went 1-for-3 at the plate during a stress-free afternoon, which is perhaps a good thing for someone still easing into a regular workload.
The 33-year-old Pearce had a bit of a delayed start this spring following last year's surgery on his left elbow. Pearce has been hitting in games since the beginning of March and made his debut at first base earlier this week, but Saturday was the first time he played in the outfield.
"It feels good, just to get the reps," said Pearce, who is expected to see time in left and at first this season. "I'm not really worried about how many balls are hit out to me right now, but just reading balls off the bat, just getting that first break and stuff like that. It's always good to get back out there."
Pearce's availability for Opening Day is not in question. He's healthy enough to hit and play first base, but what's unknown is when the club will be comfortable using him in left without any restrictions. Pearce recently started throwing from distances of 180 feet, and there has been some normal soreness after his workouts, but nothing compared to what he experienced last year prior to surgery.
Before the Blue Jays can feel comfortable using Pearce in left during a real game, he will have to pass a series of throwing tests. That should happen before Opening Day, but expect Pearce's time in left to be at least somewhat limited at the start of the season, with the bulk of his work coming at first.
"It was really just nice to get back out there and get the feel again," Pearce said. "It had been awhile since I was out there in game action. All in all, it was pretty good. ... I still haven't done any throwing to bases from the outfield. There's still a process we have to follow. We're just not there yet."
Offensively, Pearce is pretty much right where he needs to be. He picked up his ninth hit in 32 at-bats this spring on Saturday, to go along with a pair of doubles and four RBIs in Grapefruit League play.
"It's fine," said Pearce, who has a career .774 OPS in 569 big league games. "It's a process, and that's why we have Spring Training. Every day you're just trying to find that comfort zone in the box, and once you find it, it's time to play ball in the season."
Vladdy makes debut
Top prospect Vladimir Guerrero Jr. made his first appearance for the Blue Jays on the big league side of Spring Training during Toronto's victory over Canada. Guerrero got the start at third base and went 0-for-4 at the plate with a pair of medium-range fly balls to left and a sharp liner to shortstop.
Guerrero, who turned 18 earlier this month, is ranked as Toronto's No. 1 prospect by MLBPipeline.com. He has been on the Minor League side of Spring Training, but since the Blue Jays were playing a junior team on Saturday, he was brought over to play against some guys his own age.