The Toronto Blue Jays added yet another player to the injured list Saturday when outfielder Nathan Lukes was placed on the 10-day IL with a hamstring strain.
In Friday night’s 8-6 loss to the visiting Cleveland Guardians, Lukes led off the Toronto first against Gavin Williams with a double to right but hobbled into second with left hamstring discomfort. He was replaced by pinch runner Davis Schneider, who took third on a flyout and scored on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s ground out.
Lukes started the season 2-for-31 while struggling with dizziness and vision problems caused by vertigo before notching 11 hits in his last 21 at-bats. He’s hitting .250 with eight RBIs in 52 at-bats this season.
The 31-year-old played seven seasons in the minors before making his MLB debut with Toronto in 2023. He appeared in just 51 games over the 2023 and 2024 seasons before becoming an everyday player last season, finishing with a .255 batting average, 12 home runs and 65 RBIs across 135 games.
In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays called up outfielder Yohendrick Pinango from Triple-A Buffalo, where the 23-year-old prospect was hitting .288 with three homers, 13 RBI and 10 runs scored in 92 plate appearances. He will likely be a backup to Myles Straw, who is expected to make the bulk of appearances in Lukes’ absence.
To make room on the major league roster, Toronto moved right-handed pitcher Yimi Garcia (elbow) to the 60-day IL.
The injury to Lukes is the latest in a long line of Toronto players headed to the IL this season, a group of more than a dozen players that also includes designated hitter George Springer (fractured left big toe); outfielders Addison Barger (sprained left ankle) and Anthony Santander (torn labrum in left shoulder); catcher Alejandro Kirk (fractured left thumb); starting pitchers Bowden Francis (elbow surgery), Jose Berrios (stress fracture in right elbow), Cody Ponce (torn ACL in right knee), Shane Bieber (right elbow inflammation) and Trey Yesavage (shoulder).
In some good news for the Blue Jays, Yesavage is reportedly expected to come off the IL to start Tuesday’s game against the Boston Red Sox.
In less good news, Yesavage is coming off four rehab appearances in the minor leagues with a 7.50 ERA and 1.750 WHIP across 12 innings. He struck out two batters but lasted just 2.1 innings in his most recent outing, meaning the 22-year-old right-hander will likely be working under a pitch count when he makes his season debut.
Toronto manager John Schneider expressed his frustration Saturday at the continuing injuries, saying, “Feels like anyone who’s playing good is not allowed to play anymore,” according to Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae.
The Blue Jays sit in fourth place in the AL East standings with a 10-15 record. They face the Guardians Saturday afternoon in the second of a three-game series in Toronto.
–Field Level Media
