Eloy Jimenez the next man up in wake of George Springer injury news
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With Toronto Blue Jays DH George Springer's injury status still up in the air, what does the depth chart look like?
Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer suffered a fractured toe after fouling a ball off his foot during an at-bat, forcing him to leave the game in the fifth inning of Sunday's 7-4 loss to the Twins..
Following the game, manager John Schneider stated that the team will need a day or two for an update before deciding whether Springer will require a stint on the injured list.
In the meantime, attention turns to who could be called up if a roster move becomes necessary.
Typically, the Blue Jays might turn to outfielder Jonatan Clase in situations like this, but he is currently sidelined on the injured list with Triple-A Buffalo.
That leaves several names further down the depth chart as potential options, including outfielders Eloy Jimenez, Yohendrick Pinango, and RJ Schreck, along with infielders Josh Kasevich, Riley Tirotta, and Charles McAdoo.
When it comes to replacing George Springer, the Blue Jays' AAA position players include:
Eloy Jiménez (R)
Yohendrick Pinango (L)
Jonatan Clase (S)
Riley Tirotta (R)
Charles McAdoo (R)
RJ Schreck (L)
Josh Kasevich (R)
Only Clase is on the 40-man, but Jays have an open spot.
Eloy Jiménez (R)
Yohendrick Pinango (L)
Jonatan Clase (S)
Riley Tirotta (R)
Charles McAdoo (R)
RJ Schreck (L)
Josh Kasevich (R)
Only Clase is on the 40-man, but Jays have an open spot.
Among that group, Jiménez stands out as the most logical choice
A former top prospect, Jiménez impressed during spring training with Toronto, posting a .286/.333/.524 slash line along with two home runs and four doubles across 45 plate appearances.
Despite that strong showing, he did not make the Opening Day roster.
Since then, the 29-year-old has been on a tear with Triple-A Buffalo, earning Player of the Week honors while continuing his hot start.
ELOY ‼️Jimenez earns himself the Legends Player of the Week honor!
Through 11 games, he is hitting .375/.429/.542 with one home run and five RBIs.
This production builds on an already solid spring, where he recorded an .857 OPS and two home runs in 42 at-bats.
This production builds on an already solid spring, where he recorded an .857 OPS and two home runs in 42 at-bats.
It’s Eloy o’clock #BlueJays50
Jiménez’s pedigree is well established. He and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. were ranked No. 3 and No. 4, respectively, on pre-2018 prospect lists by both Baseball America and MLB.com.
That same year, Jiménez signed a six-year, $43 million contract with the Chicago White Sox, at the time, the largest deal ever given to a player before making his major league debut.
He lived up to expectations early in his career, blasting 31 home runs as a rookie in 2019 and finishing ahead of Guerrero Jr. in Rookie of the Year voting.
His 2020 Silver Slugger Award further solidified his reputation as one of the game’s most dangerous young hitters.
However, injuries and inconsistent performance have derailed his trajectory over the past several seasons.
Now, with an opportunity potentially opening in Toronto, Jiménez may have a chance to rewrite his story and reestablish himself as an impact bat at the major league level.
Also read on Blue Jays Central :
Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer exits game with injury vs Minnesota Twins
Toronto Blue Jays' George Springer exits game with injury vs Minnesota Twins