Latest update on Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andres Gimenez
Photo credit: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images
Blue Jays manager John Schneider addressed reporters ahead of Monday’s matchup against the Red Sox, providing an update on the status of shortstop Andrés Giménez.
According to Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider described Andres Gimenez as “banged up,” but confirmed that the infielder will be available off the bench for the game.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider says he’s giving a “banged up” Andres Gimenez a breather, explaining his absence from the lineup on Sunday and Monday. Gimenez is available off the bench if needed.
Gimenez having a career year on both sides of the ball so far
Giménez had started each of Toronto’s previous four games, going 6-for-16 with three doubles and four RBIs during that stretch.
However, he remains out of the lineup for a second consecutive game.
While Schneider did not specify the nature of the issue affecting the 27-year-old, it appears to be relatively minor.
Matchups may also have influenced the decision. The Blue Jays are facing a left-handed starter in Ranger Suárez, which could be a factor in sitting the left-handed-hitting Giménez.
In his absence, Ernie Clement will shift from second base to shortstop.
Coming into the 2026 season, Giménez was both healthy and riding momentum after helping Team Venezuela capture a World Baseball Classic title.
That success has carried over into his performance at the plate, where he looks improved compared to recent seasons.
Through 26 games, Giménez is hitting .287 with three home runs, three doubles, and 16 RBIs.
While it’s still early, his .781 OPS and 117 OPS+ would mark his best offensive production since his standout 2022 campaign.
Underlying metrics suggest real progress as well.
His barrel rate has increased from 3.0 percent last season to 4.8 percent this year, while his average exit velocity and hard-hit rate have also shown noticeable improvement.
Defensively, Giménez has continued to deliver elite results. In 2025, he recorded 9 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), 10 Outs Above Average (OAA), and 7 Fielding Run Value (FRV) across 719.2 innings at second base.
Despite missing time due to injury, his OAA ranked 17th across all of Major League Baseball and second among second basemen, while his FRV was also tied for second at the position.
Now transitioning to shortstop in 2026, Giménez has maintained that high defensive standard.
He currently ranks tied for fourth among shortstops in OAA (2) and tied for seventh in FRV (1).
With injuries already testing the roster, the Blue Jays can ill afford to lose another key contributor.
For now, it appears Schneider is taking a cautious approach, managing Giménez’s workload to prevent a more serious issue, while still keeping him available off the bench.
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