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The Toronto Blue Jays placed designated hitter and outfielder George Springer on the 10-day injured list Sunday after he fractured his left big toe. The injury occurred during Saturday’s 7-4 loss at home to the Minnesota Twins when Springer fouled a ball off his toe in the third inning. He left the game in the sixth inning, replaced by pinch-hitter Myles Straw.
Springer is batting .185 this season with two home runs and six RBIs over 14 games. The Blue Jays recalled first baseman and outfielder Eloy Jimenez from Triple-A Buffalo to be available for Sunday’s game against the Twins at Rogers Centre.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said initial X-rays revealed a probable small fracture in Springer’s left big toe. Further imaging was scheduled to provide more details and a clearer recovery timeline. “We’ll know more in the next couple days,” Schneider said.
Springer’s injury adds to a growing list of health setbacks for Toronto, which has nine players on the injured list. Key hitters Alejandro Kirk (left thumb fracture) and Addison Barger (left ankle sprain) have both been sidelined in the past nine days. Pitching injuries have also plagued the team.
Starting pitchers Jose Berrios, Trey Yesavage, and Shane Bieber all began the season on the injured list. Cody Ponce suffered an ACL sprain in his right knee during his first start on March 30, ending his regular season. Veteran right-hander Max Scherzer, who left his April 6 start early due to right forearm tendinitis, is scheduled to pitch in Sunday’s series finale against the Twins.
Schneider acknowledged the challenge of navigating injuries through the long season. The Blue Jays currently sit at 6-8. “There’s going to be ups and downs, there’s going to be injuries,” he said. “I think the minute we start saying, ‘Woe is me,’ that’s when things can unravel.”
He stressed the importance of a next-man-up mindset. “I want the guys to just continue to say, ‘OK, what can we do now?’” Schneider said. “It’s next man up, and if it has to look a little bit different, so be it.”
Starting pitcher Eric Lauer called losing Springer’s presence at the plate a significant blow. “Everybody’s putting their best foot forward and just trying to grind right now,” Lauer said after allowing seven earned runs in 5 1/3 innings Saturday. “It feels like we just keep getting punched in the mouth. We want it to just stop at some point, but you just have to keep going through it and hope the next guy steps up.”
With Springer’s status uncertain, Schneider said the team will be flexible with the leadoff spot in the lineup. “We had multiple leadoff hitters in the World Series last year, and guys did their part. We’ll figure it out day by day,” he said.
