Blue Jays: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. leaves Sunday’s game with injury

After yet another multi-hit game, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had to be helped off the field in the 9^th inning due to injury.

After eclipsing the rookie record, and then the franchise record for most consecutive multi-hit games, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has suffered a left knee contusion, and a left ankle sprain.

The timing of this injury couldn’t have been much worse for the budding young star, as he’s now the first rookie since the 1800’s to collect multi-hit games in 11 straight, and the second player in the last 50 years to achieve the mark, with Tony Perez in 1973 being the last time it was accomplished.

Gurriel was injured in the top of the 9^th inning yesterday against the Tigers. After hitting what looked to be a single, he tried to stretch it into a double. When running towards second, he tried to avoid the tag but fell awkwardly and painfully. He is expected to see some time on the DL, putting his historic hitting streak on pause.

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Gurriel Jr was called up by the Blue Jays earlier this season, but was then sent back down to AAA Buffalo after struggling to find his stride. The versatile second baseman / shortstop was then called back up to the Majors, and he has made the most of that opportunity. Gurriel is batting .322 on the season, .444 over his last 15 games, and is slashing .339/.355/.534 on the season.

While there is quite a bit of depth in the Blue Jays’ infield picture at the moment, Devon Travis was also held out this weekend with back soreness. He’s not expected to be out for long, but suddenly the “infield glut” isn’t as severe as it was a few days ago after the team acquired Brandon Drury from the Yankees, another 2nd/3rd baseman.

On the bright side, it sounds like Gurriel Jr. is in good spirits and is showing some positive signs with the injury, as he’s reportedly been walking around under his own power according to a tweet from Sportsnet’s Arden Zwelling.

We will update here when we have more information on Gurriel’s injury, and hopefully the news will be positive.