Blue Jays' Gimenez pinch-hits after awkward collision

May 18, 2026 - 9:45pm

Watch as the Toronto Blue Jays avoid a scary situation, as Andres Gimenez and Yohendrick Pinango collide on the grass going for a shallow fly ball, with Gimenez making the catch and both players appearing to be all right afterwards.

The Toronto Blue Jays didn't starting the anchor of their infield on Monday.

One day after an awkward collision in the outfield, shortstop Andrés Giménez was not in the Blue Jays' lineup for Game 1 of their series against the New York Yankees, but entered as a pinch-hitter in the top of the eighth.

Giménez entered for Lenyn Sosa and ultimately struck out against Yankees reliever Fernando Cruz.

Giménez and left fielder Yohendrick Piñango collided on Sunday while tracking a flare in shallow left.

Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that Giménez "kind of hit his head on Piñango's shoulder," but also stated that both players were OK after Sunday's win over the Detroit Tigers.

Giménez has shown more thump than usual to start the season and is tied for second on the Blue Jays with five home runs. However, his .238/.264/.397 slash line is still well below league average.

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A three-time Gold Glover at second base, Giménez shifted to shortstop when Bo Bichette got injured in September last season and has transitioned well to a full-time role at the position in 2026, posting a plus-3 fielding run value, according to Statcast.

Piñango is also absent from the lineup, however, the Blue Jays are set to face Yankees' left-hander Ryan Weathers, and he has often sat against left-handed pitching.