Bo Bichette‘s hot start to the season was derailed by a knee injury, but Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins is confident his star shortstop will return before the season ends.
“We’re going to take it day by day but there’s no real update on the timeline other than I’m extremely optimistic he’s going to be helping this team again in 2020,” Atkins said in a Zoom availability Thursday.
Bichette was hitting a blazing .361/.391/.672 with five home runs and 13 RBIs in 14 games before his injury. After a second opinion on Aug. 17, Bichette was diagnosed with a Grade 1 sprain of the lateral collateral ligament which is considered a minor injury.
Atkins said Thursday that Bichette will see another physician on the weekend and will remain with the team during his rehab.
“It’s just more challenging in the pandemic to get second and third opinions without compromising his rehab because then there would have to be an intake process so it’s not moving quite as quickly but we’re still confident in the rate that it is moving,” Atkins said.
Blue Jays waiting for results from Pearson’s MRI
The Blue Jays placed rookie Nate Pearson on the 10-day injured list with elbow soreness Wednesday and Atkins revealed the young right-hander had an MRI Thursday. While the team is waiting for the results to come back, the GM remains optimistic the injury won’t be long-term.
“I don’t want to comment too much but what I will say is that we’re not initially over-concerned,” Atkins said.
Pearson has made four starts for the Blue Jays so far this season, posting a 6.61 ERA, 14 strikeouts and 12 walks. He missed most of the 2018 season with a fractured forearm and suffered a stress fracture in his elbow while pitching in high school.
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Giles could go to Rochester before returning to majors
Ken Giles has missed most of the season with right elbow soreness but Atkins said Thursday that the closer is progressing well and should pitch again in 2020.
However, Giles may need to go to the team’s alternate site in Rochester first to build up his arm for major-league games, given that typical minor-league rehab assignments aren’t available in 2020.
“He’s been great, he’s throwing. I think he’s been out to 120 feet, I’m not sure what’s he’s done today but he feels great, he’s bouncing back, recovering. Extremely encouraged,” Atkins said. “I think we’ll get him into live settings, it’s not going to be too dissimilar to what we’ve done with other players that didn’t have the spring training 2.0. Where we’re creating simulated games and we’ll have the opportunity to do that in Rochester.”
Giles was injured on July 26 while pitching against the Tampa Bay Rays and hasn’t appeared in a game since. The 29-year-old is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent after the season.
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