Blue Jays avoid injury scare after key player gets hit during WBC game

The Toronto Blue Jays have had their fair share of injury news even before the 2026 MLB regular season has even started. Whether it be major injuries to Anthony Santander and Bowden Francis, or even more minor ones to Shane Bieber, it was not the start to spring that Blue Jays fans wanted.

Fortunately, it's been mostly good news on the injury front since that first week, but it almost wasn't that way as the Blue Jays may have dodged another bullet when one of their key players was hit during a game at the World Baseball Classic. In the game between Venezuela and the Netherlands last Friday, Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez was hit by a pitch from Netherlands pitcher Jaydenn Estanista.

Fortunately, Giménez was okay, according to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet, but ultimately sat out the next game for Venezuela either due to matchups or precautionary measures. A much more reassuring update showed that he was back in the lineup at the WBC on Monday in their game against Nicaragua and showed no ill-effects of that at-bat, including making a tremendous defensive play in the bottom of the sixth.

Blue Jays avoid injury scare after key player gets hit during the WBC

Toronto can't really afford to lose Giménez for any period of time this season as he will be the Blue Jays’ primary shortstop after the departure of Bo Bichette. Last year, the 27-year-old infielder failed to get into a solid offensive groove as he missed a fair chunk of the 2025 season due to injuries. As a result, Giménez managed a .210 average, .598 OPS, along with 39 runs scored, 11 doubles, seven home runs, 35 RBIs and 12 stolen bases in 101 games played.

Giménez will be hoping that a clean bill of health heading into the 2026 season will help him recapture some of his All-Star form from back in 2022 with the Cleveland Guardians in which he posted a stellar .297/.371/.466/.837 slash line, with 26 doubles, 17 home runs, 69 RBIs and 20 stolen bases in 146 total games played.

Defensively, Giménez, a three-time Gold Glove winner, he will be a significant upgrade over Bichette. And if there was ever any doubt, just take a look at this spectacular play that Giménez made on Didi Gregorius at the WBC, showing that he was already in mid-season form on the field. 

Nevertheless, the Blue Jays will be counting on him, and to some extent Ernie Clement as well, to help make up for some of the lost infield offensive production that Bichette consistently provided when he was still a part of the team. Hopefully, Giménez will be able to carry over the momentum he is  establishing in the WBC and transform it into a successful 2026 campaign with the Blue Jays.