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Blue Jays' Garcia sidelined from rehab game due to stiff neck, Kiner-Falefa resumes baseball activities
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    Blue Jays’ Garcia sidelined from rehab game due to stiff neck, Kiner-Falefa resumes baseball activities

    After returning to the field with the triple-A Buffalo Bisons on Saturday, Toronto Blue Jays reliever Yimi Garcia was scratched from his scheduled outing Tuesday with a stiff neck.

    According to Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling, the issue is considered minor, and Garcia will pitch for the Bisons on Wednesday, which will also be Ricky Tiedemann’s return to Buffalo.

    In his first rehab outing, Garcia struck out two in one inning of work, throwing just 10 pitches without allowing a baserunner.

    The 33-year-old was placed on the 15-day injured list in mid-June with right elbow ulnar neuritis.

    Garcia, a pending free agent, has been Toronto’s best bullpen arm in 2024, posting a 2.57 ERA, a 3-0 record, 37 strikeouts and five saves over 28.0 innings this season. 

    Aside from Garcia, the Blue Jays provided an injury update on infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

    The utility man resumed baseball activity Tuesday with some light running and throwing.

    Kiner-Falefa, 29, was signed to a two-year, $15 million deal in the off-season, and has become one of Toronto’s most consistent contributors in 2024.

    Before going on the injured list on July 2 with a right knee sprain, Kiner-Falefa was hitting .292/.338/.420 with seven home runs and 33 RBIs. He was also one game removed from putting together a 13-game hit streak before getting injured.

    According to FanGraphs, the seven-year MLB veteran is leading the team in Wins Above Replacement (WAR) with 2.0.

    Blue Jays manager John Schneider described Kiner-Falefa as “week to week” at the time of the injury.

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    Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Leury Garcia was forced to sit out of a rehab game on Monday due to a stiff neck. Garcia, who has been recovering from a left oblique strain, was hoping to get some playing time in the minor leagues to prepare for his return to the Blue Jays’ lineup. However, the stiff neck will delay his rehab process.

    Garcia’s injury is a setback for the Blue Jays, who have been dealing with a number of injuries to key players this season. The team is currently without outfielder George Springer, who is on the injured list with a quad strain, as well as infielder Cavan Biggio, who is recovering from a neck injury.

    On a positive note, Blue Jays infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa has resumed baseball activities after being sidelined with a hamstring injury. Kiner-Falefa, who was acquired by the Blue Jays in a trade with the Texas Rangers earlier this season, has been a key contributor to the team’s success.

    The Blue Jays will be hoping to get both Garcia and Kiner-Falefa back in the lineup as soon as possible as they continue their push for a playoff spot. In the meantime, the team will have to rely on their depth to fill in for the injured players and keep their postseason hopes alive.