Blue Jays Spring Training: Updates on Brett Cecil and Jose Bautista injuries

When the Toronto Blue Jays step onto the field at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium on Sunday, there will be a familiar face in the line-up for the Blue Jays. Jose Bautista is set to return to action for the Blue Jays, just two days after being scratched from an appearance due to a tight hamstring, according to Jim Hawkins of MLB.com.

Bautista was removed from the line-up on March 6th, when he reported having tight hamstring. Coupled with a rain delay and what was expected to be a wet field, the Blue Jays decided to play it safe with their star right fielder and inserted Caleb Gindl into the line-up instead. Manager John Gibbons opted to give Bautista another day off on Saturday.

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The good news is, the weather appears to be nice and mild on Sunday, with the forecast calling for 78 degrees and partly cloudy, with no rain expected. No word yet on whether Bautista will see time in the outfield or will simply get in his reps at the plate as the designated hitter. Regardless, it is encouraging to see his bat in the line-up again.

Unfortunately, the same thing can not be said for left-hander Brett Cecil, who is expected to miss a week or more due to shoulder inflammation. However, also per Jim Hawkins of MLB.com, the MRI show no indication of structural damage and it appears that rest is going to be all that is needed to get him back on the field again.

Cecil has yet to throw in a game this spring, and it was revealed late Friday that a shoulder issue had him on the sidelines, it sends a bit of a panic through the fanbase. With Cecil set to compete for the closer’s role, both fans and the Blue Jays would feel better about the situation if he was taking his turns and getting himself ready for the season.

Of course, the Blue Jays are no strangers to closers getting late starts in Spring Training. In each of the last two seasons, former closer Casey Janssen was slow to get off the blocks in camp. In 2013, he was able to get himself up to speed and ready for Opening Day, but missed the first month of 2014 after a shoulder issue prevented him from starting the season on time.

Both Brett Cecil and Jose Bautista are essential pieces for the 2015 Toronto Blue Jays, and the team needs them both healthy and productive to start the season. Bautista is coming off of an outstanding season, posting an fWAR of 6.3 on the heels of a .286/.403/.524 batting line with 35 home runs and 103 RBI, and he’s the only holdover in the Blue Jays outfield.

Meanwhile, Brett Cecil is returning from a second-straight stellar campaign in the Toronto bullpen. In 2014, Cecil put up a 2.70 ERA, a 2.34 FIP, and a 12.83 K/9 rate as the Blue Jays primary set-up man. However, he is considered the favorite to become the team’s next closer. If he’s unable to go to start the season, the team will have to continue to look at other internal options, which could include rookie Aaron Sanchez if he fails to win the 5th spot in the Blue Jays rotation.

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