Toronto Blue Jays star outfielder George Springer is “doing better than we thought” after hitting off a tee Friday, manager Charlie Montoyo announced.
Springer was placed on the 10-day IL with a Grade 1 knee sprain retroactively to Sunday after he collided with an outfield wall in Seattle last Saturday.
Montoyo did not have an update on Springer’s timeline to return to the lineup.
In other injury news, Montoyo announced that Nate Pearson will make another relief appearance for triple-A Buffalo on Sunday and if it goes well, the team will assess what his role at the major league level will be.
Pearson, who hasn’t pitched in the majors since May 9, told Ben Ennis and Shi Davidi during an appearance on Baseball Central on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Friday afternoon that he “felt pretty good” after pitching one inning of relief for the Buffalo Bisons on Thursday. The team’s No. 1 prospect is continuing to work back from nagging groin and sports hernia issues and is not expected to return to the starting rotation until next season.
Montoyo also announced that relief pitcher Julian Merryweather has suffered a setback as he rehabs from an oblique injury. As a result, the team has no timeline for whether he will be able to return to the majors this season.
The Blue Jays return to the Rogers Centre for a critical homestand Friday with the first of three games against the Detroit Tigers. You can watch the game on Sportsnet and SN Now beginning at 7:07 p.m. ET/ 4:07 p.m. PT.
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