The Blue Jays have welcomed back outfielder George Springer from the injured list, leading to the designation of Eloy Jiménez for assignment. Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae shared the news first.
Springer had been sidelined after fracturing a bone in his left big toe, which happened when he fouled a ball off his foot. He was placed on the IL on April 12, with Jiménez stepping in for him. Now that Springer is back on the field, Jiménez has been let go.
Unfortunately for Jiménez, he didn’t do enough to secure a permanent spot. He has been mostly a bat-only player, and his performance was lackluster. Although his batting average was .290, he failed to hit for extra bases, ending up with a slash line of .290/.343/.290—marking him as below average at the plate.
This performance isn’t new. From 2019 to 2023, Jiménez showed promise, but since then, he’s struggled. In 2024, he hit just six home runs in 98 games, ending with a disappointing .238/.289/.336 line. He spent last season in the minors, hitting .247 across two Triple-A teams.
Fans were hopeful when Jiménez had a decent spring training and performed reasonably well in Triple-A. However, his major league stats fell flat, leaving little room for him once Springer returned, especially given that Springer is likely to occupy the designated hitter spot.
Now, Jiménez is in a phase known as DFA limbo, which can last up to a week. During this time, the Blue Jays have up to 48 hours to gauge interest from other teams through the waiver process. It’s likely he will clear waivers, given his recent performance. As a veteran with over five years in the majors, Jiménez has the option to refuse an outright assignment and choose free agency instead.
For the Blue Jays, Springer’s return comes at a crucial time. They’ve started the season shaky at 13-16, wrestling with multiple injuries. Just yesterday, they also reintroduced Trey Yesavage, and they hope to soon have pitchers José Berríos and Addison Barger back as well. With several players on the mend, the team aims for a turnaround.
In 2023, injuries seemed to plague many teams, reminding fans of the unpredictability of sports. As injuries pile up, how teams respond often shapes their entire season. The Blue Jays are hoping that getting their star players back will help them find their footing in the competitive landscape of MLB.
For more details, you can check out this report on the Blue Jays’ recent challenges.
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