Blue Jays Midday Brew: Spring Training starts Wednesday

Feb 18, 2014; Dunedin, FL, USA; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher

(48) throws as the Blue Jays workout at

Training Center. Mandatory Credit:

-USA TODAY Sports

According to Gregor Chisholm of BlueJays.com, LHP J.A. Happ will take the mound of Wednesday for the Blue Jays’ first spring training game against the Philadelphia Phillies. Chisholm says Happ will start by throwing two innings his first start and will increase the number of innings by one each time out. The game will appear on MLB Network, again according to Chisholm.

After off-season surgery Edwin Encarnacion says his left wrist is at 100%, according to Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. Ken Fidlin of the Toronto Sun says Edwin looked strong and popped one out during BP while most of his teammates looked rusty. Fidlin also confirmed Edwin worked out with Seattle Mariners’ slugger Robinson Cano “on a daily basis” this off-season, which Encarnacion says has helped make him a better hitter.

Mike Wilner of Sportsnet thinks that if the Blue Jays remain healthy they could surprise in 2014. Elsewhere at Sportsnet, Davidi shares the club’s optimism regarding second baseman Ryan Goins, who has already made adjustments to his swing after meeting with new hitting coach Kevin Seitzer back in January.

John Lott of the National Post says Blue Jays’ closer Casey Janssen wants to play for a winner.

Moises Sierra is still taking ground balls in an attempt to increase his versatility for the Jays, in another piece from Chisholm at BlueJays.com.

And after controversial comments made by Scott Boras yesterday, Jay Blue of Blue Jays From Away wonders if Boras was actually referring to Blue Jays’ president Paul Beeston when he threw Rogers under the bus in comments made to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.