TORONTO – A case of turf toe means Toronto Blue Jays slugger Jose Bautista will spend the next two weeks in a walking boot before he’s re-assessed and a firmer timeline for a return can be established.
The diagnosis was made Monday when the all-star right-fielder was examined in Charlotte by Dr. Robert Anderson, a foot/ankle specialist who works for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers. Most commonly a football injury, turf toe occurs when there’s inflammation to ligaments or tissue around the big joint in the big toe.
“They all vary in how quick they come back,” said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons, who added Anderson “wasn’t too alarmed” by anything he saw in the exam.
Bautista hurt his left toe chasing down a fly ball in Thursday’s 13-2 pounding of the Philadelphia Phillies, and was placed on the disabled list a day later.
Initial treatment for turf toe is similar to any injury with swelling. His toe was immobilized to help eliminate the swelling and eliminate the risk of further aggravation to the affected area, with steps progressing to restoration of range of motion and eventually a fuller workload to pain tolerance.
In Bautista’s absence, the Blue Jays plan to keep using Ezequiel Carrera in right field and as the leadoff man.
“Zeke right now is playing great, lefty/righty it doesn’t matter,” said Gibbons. “It’s a short sample size no doubt, but he’s taken to that leadoff spot, so we’ll just run with it and see how that all plays out.”
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LEFTIES ON MEND: Left-handers Brett Cecil (lat) and Franklin Morales (shoulder) joined single-A Dunedin on Tuesday to begin rehab assignments.
Rookie Chad Girodo is the only rookie currently in the Blue Jays bullpen and having both southpaws at his disposal would give Gibbons more flexibility in matching up.
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SHORT HOPS: The Blue Jays will emerge from Thursday’s off-day with Aaron Sanchez, R.A. Dickey and Marcus Stroman scheduled to start this weekend’s series in Chicago versus the White Sox. That will give both Sanchez and Stroman a week off between starts. … The Blue Jays are kicking around using Drew Hutchison for a spot start during an 11-game homestand leading into the all-star break. That will cap a stretch of 17 straight games without an off-day, and the team has been conscious of working in some rest for Sanchez. “You want to protect the kid but you also want him out there the way he’s throwing,” said Gibbons, highlighting the dilemma with the young right-hander. … Devon Travis was bumped up to second in the batting order for Tuesday’s series opener versus Arizona and Gibbons said it’s a look he may run with for a while. “Do a little experimenting,” he said. … The Blue Jays won’t face Diamondbacks ace Zack Greinke during this two-game series between the teams, something Gibbons wasn’t upset about. “It’s always good when you don’t get Greinke,” he said.
