The Toronto Blue Jays haven't needed reinforcements lately, but they'll be getting them anyway, both in the short and long term.
Manager John Schneider shared a slew of injury updates with reporters on Thursday regarding six ailing Blue Jays.
Daulton Varsho's rehab from a hamstring injury will move to triple-A Buffalo on Friday, and if all goes well over the weekend, the Gold Glove centre-fielder could rejoin the Blue Jays in Baltimore next week, Sportsnet's Arden Zwelling reported Thursday.
Varsho, 29, has been held out since May 31 after sustaining a grade-1 strain in his left hamstring while trying to leg out a triple against the Athletics. He was leading the Blue Jays with eight home runs at the time of the injury.
Relievers Yimi Garcia and Nick Sandlin both had cortisone shots in their elbows this week. Garcia will be down from throwing for two weeks and Sandlin for at least one week before they begin ramping back up.
Garcia has pitched to a 3.86 ERA over 21 innings with 25 strikeouts and 12 walks, while Sandlin has a 2.20 ERA over 16.1 innings, punching out 16 batters and walking eight.
Meanwhile, Andres Gimenez began a running progression in Toronto on Thursday that Schneider said "went better than expected."
The left-handed hitting infielder has been out since July 4 after aggravating an existing ankle injury against the Los Angeles Angels. Gimenez had a .353/.405/.471 slash line in ten games prior to getting hurt.
Alek Manoah will throw a simulated game in Dunedin on Saturday as he continues to progress in his recovery from Tommy John surgery.
The former all-star right-hander has allowed four earned runs over 2.1 innings in two separate rehab outings with the FCL Blue Jays and Dunedin Blue Jays, striking out three and walking two. Manoah, 27, has not pitched in a major league game since May 29, 2024.
As for Toronto's biggest signing of the off-season by dollar value, Anthony Santander, he's returning to Florida this weekend to continue his rehab at the Blue Jays' player development complex.
The switch-hitting slugger remains week-to-week while recovering from a left shoulder subluxation after crashing into the wall during a game against the Los Angeles Angels in May.
Santander, 30, struggled through 50 games this season, batting .179 with a .577 OPS and six home runs.
With Varsho set to return next week, it stands to reason that he will take over in centre, moving the existing platoon of Myles Straw and Nathan Lukes to more of a part-time bench role.
