Blue Jays to activate Jose Reyes from disabled list on Sunday?
With Ryan Goins twisting his ankle during Saturday’s game, the Toronto Blue Jays faced the the possibility of penciling in a line-up with both Munenori Kawasaki and Steve Tolleson in play for Sunday’s series finale with the Seattle Mariners. Luckily for the Blue Jays, reinforcements may be on the may, as reported via insider (aka Buffalo Bison’s first baseman) Matt Hague.
As Hague would seem to be indicating, it would appear as though Jose Reyes will be rejoining the Blue Jays on Sunday, just two days into his rehab assignment with the Bisons. That became a little more of a certainty when Reyes himself took to Twitter a half hour later to spell it out a little clearer.
On my way! Back
Reyes has been on the disabled list since April 28th with a cracked left rib and was on rehab assignment with the Bisons since May 21st. However, the assignment was meant to last through the weekend, with Reyes rejoining the team for Monday’s series opener against the Chicago White Sox. However, that appears to have changed with Ryan Goins possibly being lamed on Saturday. For their part, the Blue Jays confirmed that Reyes was in fact returning to Toronto via Twitter, but restrained from fully announcing that he will be rejoining the team for Sunday’s game.
Reyes, who was hitting .250/.266/.300 at the time of being placed on the disabled list, went 4 for 11 with a pair of walks, two RBI, and two runs scored during this three-game stint with the Bisons. While Ryan Goins has been a tremendous fielder for the Blue Jays, his wRC+ of 63 (.242/.283/.313) leaves a lot to be desired and Reyes would be a sharp upgrade from an offensive standpoint.
Reyes was unable to bat left-handed while trying to play through the pain in late April and could have that immediately put to the test regardless of if he is activated on Sunday or takes the field for the first time on Monday. The Mariners will send right-hander Taijuan Walker to the bump on Sunday, and he will be followed by Hector Noesi, who will take the ball from the right side for the White Sox on Monday.
In order to activate Reyes from the 15-day disabled list, the Blue Jays will need to make a corresponding roster move. All along, that has been expected to be Munenori Kawasaki, who was recalled on Friday with Devon Travis heading to the 15-day DL with shoulder inflammation. The plan was for Kawasaki to only be with the big club until Reyes return, at which time he would return to Buffalo. However, that may change a bit depending on how Ryan Goins is doing on his ankle on Sunday.
(h/t Minor Leaguer, Bluebird Banter)
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