Blue Jays activate Gimenez from IL, designate Kennedy for assignment

One of the Toronto Blue Jays' marquee off-season additions will return to the team Tuesday.

Andrés Giménez was activated from the injured list ahead of a series with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday, while utility man Buddy Kennedy was designated for assignment to make room on the roster, per Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling.

Giménez will start at second base and bat ninth in the series opener.

Live coverage of the game begins at 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+.

Giménez, 26, holds a .218 batting average with five home runs and 23 RBIs over 61 games in his first season with the Blue Jays after coming to Toronto in a trade with the Cleveland Guardians.

He hasn't played since July 4 after suffering an ankle injury.

Kennedy, 26, appeared in six games with the Blue Jays, collecting one hit and two walks in 14 plate appearances.

Meanwhile, outfielder George Springer is back with the big-league club as he continues to recover from a concussion.

He's engaged in all baseball activities and will play multiple rehab games at triple-A Buffalo before returning to the Blue Jays once he clears protocol, which the team hopes happens in the coming days, per Zwelling.

A pair of rehabbing pitchers will also appear for the Bisons in the coming week as Alek Manoah is set to start Wednesday and throw around 70-75 pitches while Shane Bieber is slated for 80-85 pitches on Friday.

Both players are in the process of returning from Tommy John surgery.

Lastly, Sportsnet's Shi Davidi reported that Anthony Santander is back in Toronto to continue his rehab and the hope is he could start swinging a bat in the next week or so.

The 30-year-old Santander sustained a left shoulder subluxation after crashing into the wall during a game against the Los Angeles Angels in May. He last played on May 29 against the Athletics.