In last night’s game, Jose Bautista seemed to trip after retrieving a ball in the outfield, in a play that seemed innocent save for the frustrating miscue by Joey Bats (and second baseman Devon Travis). Well, in the words of Anchorman’s Ron Burgundy, that escalated quickly:
#BlueJays awaiting results of MRI on Jose Bautista's left knee. Tweaked it last night during OF stumble.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) August 10, 2016
Ross Atkins says Jose Bautista has knee sprain, headed to DL, Junior Lake up. #BlueJays
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) August 10, 2016
This has been a star-crossed stretch for the Blue Jays’ outfield, with Kevin Pillar and Jose Bautista hitting the disabled list in the span of a few days. It’s also a continuation of a frustrating season for Bautista, who had just returned from a toe injury to have this happen. He hadn’t regained his all-star form at the plate, with a .222/.349/.444 line that’s well below the norms he’s established in his time with the Jays. Bautista has also visibly struggled in the field, as BP Toronto’s Matt Gwin explained earlier this week. The team had been rotating he, Saunders, and Encarnacion through the DH spot, with Melvin Upton seeing some time in the outfield to improve the defense.
With both Pillar and Bautista hurt (and the subsequent opportunity for regular at-bats their injuries provided), it’s been a surprise that prospect Dalton Pompey hasn’t seemed to merit any consideration. He has not erupted as some had hoped in AAA this year, with an unimpressive .281/.349/.359 line so far. It could be that the organization wants to see him have a full year in one place, given his well-travelled history, or that the current front office is not as enamored with him as the prior regime was.
Junior Lake spent a few weeks with the Jays earlier this season when Bautista was hurt, mostly splitting time with Ezequiel Carrera. He’ll man the short side of a platoon again, this time with former Bisons teammate Darrell Ceciliani, who was called up to replace Kevin Pillar earlier this week. With three outfielders now hurt, the trade for Melvin Upton Jr. looks even better, as he’ll get all the at-bats he can handle until Pillar and Bautista are back.
Lead Photo: Troy Taormina-USA Today Sports