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Blue Jays: Injury updates, Teoscar Hernandez, and more

ByChris Henderson|
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - AUGUST 16: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Toronto Blue Jays swings during the eighth inning of game two of a double header against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sahlen Field on August 16, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team and are playing their home games in Buffalo due to the Canadian government’s policy on coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NEW YORK - AUGUST 16: Teoscar Hernandez #37 of the Toronto Blue Jays swings during the eighth inning of game two of a double header against the Tampa Bay Rays at Sahlen Field on August 16, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team and are playing their home games in Buffalo due to the Canadian government’s policy on coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)

Teoscar Hernandez won’t be in the Blue Jays’ lineup on Tuesday night thanks to a tight back, but Charlie Montoyo said he may be available to pinch hit.

Well, there was some good news and some bad news ahead of the Blue Jays game on Tuesday evening.

Unfortunately when the lineup card was released, there was no Teoscar Hernandez to be found, which is definitely the bad news. Other than Bo Bichette (who is also injured), the slugging outfielder has arguably been the team’s best hitter this season, and losing him for an extended period would be a big blow.

Fortunately there was a silver lining when it comes to Hernandez, as his injury is nothing more than a tight back, and Charlie Montoyo even indicated that he could be available to pinch hit on Tuesday night if the need arises. Not to minimize back issues by any means, but it doesn’t sound like it’s a serious issue.

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Hopefully a night off to rest will be all that he needs to feel like himself, as he’s been a pretty dangerous hitter thus far. He’s slashing .299/.313/.636 across his first 77 at-bats, adding seven home runs, five doubles, and 14 RBI. He still isn’t walking very much, but as long as he keeps hitting the ball with authority, there will be a place for him in the lineup.

Lately that place has been in the cleanup spot, which will be manned by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. on Tuesday night. The Blue Jays are also without Bichette and Rowdy Tellez, who was hit on the head by a baserunner during Monday night’s game, and is sitting out on Tuesday night as well. He’s currently under concussion protocol, so it’s hard to say how long it’ll be before he’s available again. Montoyo said they consider him day to day for now, but concussions can be a tricky thing.

The Blue Jays made one other roster move ahead of Tuesday’s game, sending Jacob Waguespack down to the taxi-squad and promoting Julian Merryweather, who will presumably make his MLB debut at some point this week. Merryweather was infamously acquired from Cleveland in exchange for Josh Donaldson at the 2018 August deadline, and has dealt with a variety of arm injuries over the last few years.

Nate Pearson takes the ball against the Orioles this evening, and while the Blue Jays will be down a few bodies, hopefully their absences won’t be very long.