George Springer leaves Blue Jays game early after eerily familiar scene

The Toronto Blue Jays just got him back, but the return may not last long for George Springer. The Blue Jays designated hitter was removed from Saturday afternoons game against the Minnesota Twins in the top of the third inning after taking an 88 mph slider off his foot - the same foot that he suffered a fractured toe on in early April.

Springer was originally placed on the Injured List on April 11, also against the Twins, when he fouled a ball off his foot. That play resulted in a fractured toe and he missed every game up until Apr. 29, when he entered the game as a pinch hitter in the Blue Jays' win over the Boston Red Sox.

Saturday (May 2) marked Springer's third start since being activated off the IL and he had provided some quality at-bats in his return including giving the Blue Jays three hits out of the leadoff spot. If there is any silver lining it's that Springer was able to walk off the field under his own strength.

Unfortunately for the Blue Jays, this is just the latest in what's been a long line of injuries that has marked their season so far. The Blue Jays have already dealt with the loss of Springer this season and are also still awaiting the return of Alejandro Kirk, Addison Barger and Nathan Lukes to come back to the lineup.

If the Blue Jays need to replace Springer, they just DFA'd a worthy candidate

They also DFA'd Eloy Jiménez, to make room for Springer on the 40-man roster. Jiménez was having a decent season at the plate, but is limited in his defensive abilities, and had yet to show any real power while filling in for Springer and if Springer is going to miss any significant time again, it would have been nice having Jiménez still around.

Toronto has gotten some nice performances though out of rookie Yohendrick Pinango, who recently got a vote of confidence from manager John Schneider who said they are going to give the 23-year-old left-handed hitting outfielder "a bit of a runway while he’s here. That’s the profile you want. Go ahead and swing it and swing at a good pitch."

So far that's what Pinango has done with five hits (all singles), three RBIs, one walk and no strikeouts going into Saturdays game in his first five games at the big league level. However, the Blue Jays are at their best when Springer is in the lineup and playing at his best. The Blue Jays have seldom had those two things happening at the same time this year.

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