Bo Bichette's long absence from the Toronto Blue Jays lineup is over.
The team announced that it has reinstated the shortstop from the 10-day injured list ahead of Tuesday's game against the Texas Rangers. He will start at shortstop and hit second in the game.
Bichette has been out since July 19 with a right-calf strain, though by virtue of that quirky suspended game against the Red Sox gets credit for an at-bat on Aug. 26 in Boston.
"It's my job. I'm healthy. I also just really miss the game," Bichette said Tuesday about why it was important for him to return for the final 12 games. "I feel grateful to have the opportunity to get back out here and play the game that I love. So I've got two more weeks to do it, and I'm just excited to be here."
Toronto manager John Schneider told reporters that the Blue Jays will be careful with Bichette's workload, mixing in rest and designated hitters days, per Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith.
The Blue Jays also placed infielder Will Wagner on the 60-day injured list with left knee inflammation and outfielder Daulton Varsho on the 10-day injured list with a right shoulder strain, retroactive to Sept. 14.
Since making his MLB debut with the Blue Jays in mid-August, Wagner has slashed .305/.337/.451 with two home runs and six doubles. He played just once in Toronto's sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals, going 1-for-5 on Friday.
According to Nicholson-Smith, the Blue Jays are sending Wagner to Cleveland to have his knee examined with hopes that the injury is not too serious.
Varsho, meanwhile, has been out since Sept. 11 and had been dealing with his shoulder for a couple of weeks prior. On the season, the 28-year-old is hitting .214 with 18 home runs, 58 RBIs and 10 stolen bases.
Outfielder Steward Berroa has been recalled from triple-A Buffalo to fill the extra spot on the roster.
Berroa has five hits in 33 at-bats for the Blue Jays this year and has stolen five bases.
In Bichette's absence, Leo Jimenez and Ernie Clement have filled in at shortstop, though call-ups and trades have transformed the Blue Jays infield since his departure to injury.
Bichette was struggling at the plate before he went down (though most of the Blue Jays were at the time), posting a .222/.275/.320 slash line, with just four home runs and 30 RBIs. Three years ago he had 29 homers and 102 RBIs by season's end.
The 26-year-old is coming off a four-game rehab stint with triple-A Buffalo, where he collected four hits in 14 at-bats, while collecting two RBIs.
Toronto also announced that it had claimed pitcher Nick Robertson off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels and optioned the right-hander to triple-A.
Robertson, a six-foot-six right-hander, appeared in eight games for the Cardinals this season, posting a 4.38 ERA over 12.1 innings while collecting 14 strikeouts.
The Angels claimed Robertson off waivers in early August, and have kept him in triple-A since. Los Angeles designated the 26-year-old for assignment over the weekend.
The Blue Jays open a three-game set against the Rangers at (8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Sportsnet and Sportsnet+), with the defending World Series champs having won just once in their last five games.
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