Bo Bichette was not with the Blue Jays as they opened their final road trip of the season聽on Monday night in Tampa.
The injured shortstop was in Texas, seeking a second opinion on his injured left knee from Dr. Dan Cooper, the Dallas Cowboys orthopedic surgeon.
Bichette was hurt in a collision at home plate with Yankees catcher Austin Wells in New York on Sept. 6. He limped off the field, but played the rest of the game after a 106-minute rain delay. He hasn’t played since.
Jays manager John Schneider told reporters in Tampa on Monday that the injury is to the posterior cruciate ligament in Bichette’s left knee, but the Jays have yet to reveal the severity of the sprain.
The Star reported last week that some Jays, including infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, were concerned that Bichette will miss significant time.
“Hopefully we’re playing long enough that he can try to make a comeback late in the post-season,”聽Kiner-Falefa聽said on the Sept. 11 episode of聽“Deep Left Field,” the Star’s baseball podcast.
The Jays hope Cooper can provide clarity on a timetable. But given the fact that Bichette聽鈥斅爀ligible to come off the injured list Wednesday 鈥斅爃asn’t participated in any baseball activities since he got hurt, it’s difficult to imagine he’ll be back any time soon.
Santander update
翱耻迟蹿颈别濒诲别谤/顿贬听Anthony Santander聽got聽the first breather of his rehab assignment on a day off for the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons before their final six games of the season.
The switch-hitter, working his way back from a shoulder injury suffered in May, has gone 3-for-13 over four rehab games, serving as the designated hitter. He homered, walked twice and struck out twice in the first game and has since singled, doubled, walked twice and struck out twice.
Santander will need to play the outfield (both corners) before returning to the big leagues,聽and perhaps hit better than .231.
If he’s right, the slugger聽鈥斅爓ho hit a career-high 44 home runs for the Baltimore Orioles last season聽鈥 could help the Jays down the stretch, especially in Bichette’s absence.
Berr铆os up for Clemente
Right-hander Jos茅 Berr铆os is the Jays nominee for MLB’s Roberto Clemente Award. The annual honour goes to聽鈥渢he player who best represents the game of baseball through extraordinary character, community involvement, philanthropy and positive contributions, both on and off the field.”
Berrios, like the late Clemente a Puerto Rican, established the El Dream charity in Canada in connection with his La Makina foundation back home. Both organizations聽support kids facing barriers and “help them find belonging on the baseball field, learn important life skills, realize their potential, and achieve their dreams.”
The award was established in 1971 as the Commissioner’s Award, then renamed for Clemente after the Hall of Famer died in a plane crash in 1972 while delivering aid to hurricane survivors in Nicaragua.聽
Bye, bye Borucki
The Jays’ reunion with Ryan Borucki was short-lived. The 31-year-old left-hander, who was also a Blue Jay from 2018-22, was reacquired at the end of August after being released by the Pittsburgh Pirates and then called up on Sept. 2. Before Monday’s game in Tampa, he was designated for assignment to open a roster spot for pitcher聽Trey Yesavage.
The reliever had great success against left-handed hitters in Pittsburgh this season, but didn’t replicate that with the Jays. Only one of his three appearances was good. In his last one, on Friday against the Baltimore Orioles, he walked both the left-handed batters he faced.
Since Borucki has more than five years of major-league service, he can refuse an outright assignment and become a free agent. If he clears waivers and stays in the organization, he would be eligible to pitch for the Jays in the playoffs.
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