Blue Jays' Arjun Nimmala hoping to pick up where he left off in rehab assignment

There is never a "good time" to get injured, but in the case of Arjun Nimmala, a right hamstring injury maybe came at the worst time for the Toronto Blue Jays' prospect. The 20-year-old shortstop hasn't played since May 27.

That's when he left a game in the fourth inning after running to first base on an infield hit, injuring his hamstring in the process while playing for Double-A New Hampshire. He was placed on the seven-day minor-league injured list and hasn't appeared in a game since. Which was unfortunate timing considered the scorcher he was on prior to the injury.

Nimmala was promoted from High-A Vancouver at the beginning of May and in 18 games since his promotion he was hitting .308 with a .408 BABIP and .805 OPS. He compiled 20 hits in those 18 games, while driving in two runners and taking seven walks. The only issue, that has been an issue since he started playing pro-baseball, is his strikeout rate. He K'd 16 times in those 18 games, a 22.2 percent K%. He's never been under 20% at any level of the Blue Jays' minor league system.

However, his contact skills and his developing power and outgrowing those strikeout concerns. He didn't hit a home run at Double-A in those 18 games but raised his line-drive percentage up to 30.6 percent which was 11 percent higher than what he produced in Vancouver.

Nimmala removed after only one at-bat in return to game action

It wasn't the return that Nimmala was hoping for though with the FCL Blue Jays. Nimmala was the team's DH and was batting second in the lineup and was hit by a pitch in his first at-bat. He was removed from the game after that plate appearance, likely as a precaution.

The hope is the hit-by-pitch doesn't force him to go back on the shelf. The 2023 first-round draft pick of the Blue Jays was on a path to having his best pro-season yet. He got an extended look at spring training thanks to the Blue Jays' entire infield participating at the 2026 World Baseball Classic. He managed a .364 OBP in 16 games before being assigned to minor league camp and beginning the year with Vancouver.

Reports surfaced that Nimmala was actually disappointed to not get the promotion to Double-A right away. But long-time fans have observed how deliberate this team can be with some of their prospects. Nimmala hit four home runs in 23 games with Vancouver and had a .362 OBP with a 123 wRC+ before actually getting the promotion.

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