CHICAGO -- Jose Bautista's swollen toe is healing, but the Blue Jays outfielder is still in a walking boot.
Bautista, 35, was placed on the 15-day disabled list June 17 with a turf toe injury to his left big toe. He's making progress, but there is still no definitive timeline for when Bautista will return to the active roster.
"He says he's feeling better and better each day," said George Poulis, the Blue Jays' head athletic trainer. "The swelling is going down in his toe, so he's doing well. No one would be able to give you a timeline now. He's in the boot right now, short term, so we're just trying to get him over that pain/swelling mode, and then move to the next phase of strengthening and range of motion, stuff like that."
Bautista was batting .230 with 12 home runs and 41 RBIs in 65 games prior to the injury. After seeing a specialist, the recommendation was to wear the walking boot for two weeks and then be re-evaluated. That two-week period is nearly up. Poulis said there's a chance Bautista might have to wear it longer than anticipated.
"They may, at that evaluation, decide to keep him in the boot one more week, but right now it's two weeks," Poulis said.