Devon Travis returns, on rehab assignment with Dunedin

Devon Travis missed the Blue Jays’ spring training while recovering from a shoulder procedure

Batting second for the Dunedin Blue Jays on Friday evening, number 23, Devon Travis.

The Blue Jays second baseman began his rehab assignment today with Toronto’s advanced-A affiliate in Florida, and is now on the path to his major league return.

Earlier in the day and prior to the announcement, Travis tweeted out the following:

After missing all of spring training in March and being shut down for much of the offseason while he worked his way back to full health, Travis does have a longer than average rehabilitation stint ahead of him.

The first hurdle, of course, will be his health. Working through back-to-back games pain-free will be priority number one, but then, Travis will need to catch up to pitchers who’ve had a lengthy head start on him.

Travis is defensively sound at second base, but his timing at the dish could take a greater deal of reps to work it’s way back.

Once he’s ready to return, the Blue Jays will also have a roster decision to make. Assuming Andy Burns is still on the roster at that time, he becomes a candidate for the demotion. Ryan Goins is doing himself no favours by hitting .160, though, especially with infielder Darwin Barney hitting .333 through 45 at-bats.