A right calf strain has put Bo Bichette back on the injured list.
The Toronto Blue Jays placed the shortstop on the 10-day injured list after he was forced to leave Friday’s game against the Detroit Tigers.
Bichette lined out to right fielder Wenceel Perez in the sixth inning. He came up favouring his calf as he ran down the first base line and was replaced by Leo Jimenez.
Manager John Schneider said after the game that Bichette would have an MRI to determine the severity of the injury.
The Blue Jays shortstop was making his return to the lineup after missing the four games before the All-Star Break due to a right calf injury. Bichette had previously spent time on the injured list in the first half due to a calf strain.
Bichette was 1-for-3 before being forced from the game.
In the interim, Leo Jimenez will suit up at short and look to continue to build off his solid play he’s shown throughout his short pro-league career. Through his first nine MLB games, Jimenez has hit .348 with an .899 OPS.
It has been a trying season for Bichette, who improved his slash line Friday to .222/.275/.320 with four home runs.
Addison Barger was recalled from triple-A Buffalo and will be active for Saturday’s game. The 24-year-old is hitting .260/.391/.466 with nine home runs and 38 RBI with Buffalo and has appeared in 20 games with the Blue Jays hitting .150/.177/.183.
Game two of the three game series versus the Tigers is set to kick off at 3:07 p.m. ET / 12:07 p.m. PT.
The Toronto Blue Jays have placed shortstop Bo Bichette on the injured list with a right calf strain, the team announced on Monday. In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays have recalled infielder Kevin Smith from their alternate training site.
Bichette, 23, suffered the injury during Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays. He was seen limping off the field after running out a ground ball in the first inning. The young shortstop has been one of the Blue Jays’ best hitters this season, batting .275 with 22 home runs and 73 RBIs in 108 games.
The loss of Bichette is a big blow to the Blue Jays, who are currently in the thick of the playoff race in the American League. The team will now turn to Barger, a 25-year-old infielder who has spent most of the season in Triple-A Buffalo. Barger has hit .267 with 12 home runs and 45 RBIs in 89 games for the Bisons this season.
While Barger may not have the same offensive firepower as Bichette, he is a solid defender who can play multiple positions in the infield. He will provide depth for the Blue Jays as they look to make a push for the postseason.
It is unclear how long Bichette will be sidelined with his calf strain, but the Blue Jays are hopeful that he will be able to return before the end of the regular season. In the meantime, they will rely on Barger and others to fill the void left by their star shortstop.
Overall, this injury is a tough break for Bichette and the Blue Jays, but they will look to overcome it and continue their pursuit of a playoff spot in the competitive American League.