BALTIMORE -- The Blue Jays can breathe a big sigh of relief as they head back to Toronto, their nine-game, three-city road trip complete.
What seemed like it may have been a devastating loss after George Springer exited early with a left wrist injury ended with a 7-6, 10-inning win on Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards and negative X-rays for Springer.
Springer has been the most dominant Toronto hitter in the first two weeks of the season, accumulating a .375 average and a 1.040 OPS in just 16 games. Though he had an unremarkable spring (hitting .108 in 15 games), Springer has mashed at the plate. He¡¯s had six extra-base hits (two homers) and 10 RBIs already, plus a pair of stolen bases.
So when Springer was removed with what the club called ¡°left wrist discomfort¡± after appearing in pain during his fifth-inning at-bat, there was some apprehension for the Toronto staff -- particularly with Springer¡¯s injury history, including a scare on April 5 when he exited with back spasms after running into a wall at Citi Field.
¡°It sucks with him. It sucks with anybody, you know,¡± manager John Schneider said. ¡°Georgie plays the game one speed, and thankfully it hasn't been anything crazy just yet. He's been through it. He's been through it in his career.¡±
After taking a first-pitch ball, Springer whiffed on the next offering from Baltimore reliever Bryan Baker. As he finished his swing motion, though, Springer shook out his left hand, wincing and appearing in great pain. He called for a timeout and was attended to by Schneider and Toronto¡¯s head athletic trainer, Jose Julian Ministral, who paid extra attention to the thumb and wrist area of that left hand.
¡°In that moment, I was kind of just trusting him and what he was saying to me and Jose,¡± Schneider said. ¡°He kind of got like a little bit of a zinger there on a couple swings. ... So hopefully it's more good news tonight.¡±
Springer took a few dry swings, then stepped back into the box. He swung through two more pitches for an inning-ending strikeout, appearing in pain following both swings. When he was wrung up, Springer threw his bat down on the ground and ripped off his batting gloves, appearing in pain throughout as he hurriedly returned to the dugout and retreated down the tunnel into the clubhouse. He is considered day to day.
¡°We'll see how he is tomorrow,¡± Schneider said. ¡°But I think with the way it looked today, best possible outcome so far. ... We'll check him out more when we get home tonight and tomorrow morning, and go from there.¡±
Toronto has plenty of depth behind Springer, though none quite as productive at the plate. Davis Schneider (had his first hit and RBI of the year in the finale) and Alan Roden (pinch-hit for Schneider in the 10th inning) are both options in left field, and Anthony Santander -- who hit his first homer with Toronto as the DH in Saturday¡¯s opener -- is beginning to warm up at the plate. Will Wagner -- who pinch-hit for Springer in the seventh inning -- and Roden are both options to DH.
But the Blue Jays are optimistic they won¡¯t be without their cleanup hitter for more than a few days. And even if they are, they¡¯ve got some bats just waiting for a chance to break out.