Blue Jays provide injury updates on four players as spring camp opens
As the Toronto Blue Jays officially got their spring training underway Thursday morning with pitchers and catchers reporting, manager John Schneider provided updates on five players to open camp.
The sounds of baseball are back. The popping of gloves, the cracking of bats and managers providing injury updates.
As the Toronto Blue Jays officially got their spring training under way Thursday morning with pitchers and catchers reporting, manager John Schneider provided updates on four players to open camp.
Starting with Erik Swanson, Schneider said that the right-handed reliever is “going to be a little bit behind” to start at spring training after experiencing forearm fatigue in January.
According to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, Swanson has been throwing from 120 feet and may still be ready for Opening Day.
The 31-year-old posted a 5.03 ERA over 39.1 innings for the Blue Jays in 2024, and was demoted to triple-A in late May because of his early-season struggles. Upon his return, however, he posted a 2.55 ERA over his final 24.2 innings.
Schneider also provided an update on outfielder Daulton Varsho, who underwent shoulder surgery in September and is expected to miss to beginning of the year. The reigning Gold Glove winner in centre field is throwing from 90 feet.
Per Davidi, the Blue Jays are still operating as if he’ll miss the start of the season, but Schneider said the team isn’t “putting anything past him.”
Varsho slashed .214/.293/.407 with 18 homers over 136 games in 2024.
Will Wagner, who had surgery on his left knee in September, is doing everything and will get reps at third and first base this spring.
Acquired at last year’s trade deadline as part of the package for Yusei Kikuchi, Wagner impressed in his short MLB debut. In 24 games, he hit .305 with two homers and six doubles.
Finally, Schneider updated Bo Bichette‘s status after the shortstop underwent finger surgery to end his disappointing 2024.
Bichette dealt with various injuries throughout the season as he slumped to a career-worst .598 OPS over 81 games played.
“Bo looks like Bo, which is really, really refreshing,” Schneider said. “We kind of operated without one of [our] best bats last year in Bo. So having him back is going to be big.”
Davidi reported that Bichette had the pin removed from his finger long ago, feels normal and is a full go for spring training.
