DUNEDIN, Fla. – The Toronto Blue Jays intend to ease some of their regulars into spring training game action “by design,” manager John Gibbons said Monday.
The Blue Jays expect shortstop Troy Tulowitzki to make his spring debut Friday against the Baltimore Orioles, while right fielder Jose Bautista could debut a week to ten days into the spring schedule. Gibbons says it’s the preferred plan for a team whose off-season was shortened by a deep playoff run.
“We’re just holding some guys back a little, give them a little more time,” he said.
Meanwhile, Edwin Encarnacion missed Monday’s workout after having an abscessed tooth pulled Sunday. On the pitching side, the Blue Jays also intend to take it slow with Marco Estrada, who threw off of flat ground Monday.
The Blue Jays travel to Clearwater, Fla. Tuesday, where Marcus Stroman and Drew Hutchison will be among the pitchers taking the mound. Also scheduled to make the trip are position players Josh Thole, Chris Colabello, Justin Smoak, Darwin Barney and Dalton Pompey.
SORIANO DELAYED: Rafael Soriano, who signed a minor league contract with the Blue Jays Sunday, has yet to arrive in camp due to visa issues. Once he does arrive, the 36-year-old right-hander will have the chance to bounce back from a 2015 season marred by injury and poor performance.
“He’s had a lot of success,” Gibbons said. “We’ll see what he’s got left. It makes more competition. That only helps us.”
