As the Toronto Blue Jays returned from a second rain delay Saturday against the Chicago Cubs, one player didn’t rejoin the team on the field.
Shortstop Leo Jiménez was removed from the game with right knee soreness, the team said.
Jiménez did not get a chance to bat after appearing in two innings. He was replaced in the lineup by Steward Berroa, who slotted in at right field while Ernie Clement shifted to shortstop, and Addison Barger took over at third base.
Jiménez hit a solo home run in Friday’s series opener against the Chicago Cubs. In 34 games with the Blue Jays this season, the 23-year-old is hitting .221/.303/.368 with two home runs and seven RBIs.
He made his MLB debut on July 2 to replace infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who was placed on the 10-day injured list at the time with a left knee sprain.
On Tuesday night, the Toronto Blue Jays faced off against the New York Yankees in a highly anticipated matchup. However, the game took a turn for the worse for the Blue Jays when their star shortstop, Leo Jimenez, was forced to exit the game due to right knee soreness.
Jimenez, who has been a key player for the Blue Jays this season, was seen limping off the field in the third inning after making a routine play at shortstop. The team immediately called for a trainer to assess the situation, and it was determined that Jimenez would need to be taken out of the game for further evaluation.
This news comes as a blow to the Blue Jays, who have been relying on Jimenez’s stellar defense and solid hitting to help propel them to victory. Without him in the lineup, the team will need to rely on their depth to fill the void left by his absence.
It is unclear how serious Jimenez’s injury is at this time, but the team is hopeful that he will be able to make a quick recovery and return to the lineup soon. In the meantime, they will need to adjust their game plan and find a way to win without one of their key players on the field.
As fans anxiously await updates on Jimenez’s condition, they can only hope that he will be back in action soon and helping the Blue Jays continue their push for a playoff spot. In the meantime, the team will need to rally together and find a way to win games without one of their star players in the lineup.