Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider says he expects star first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to return to spring training games soon after a positive weekend of recovery for his right-knee inflammation.
Sportsnet’s Hazel Mae shared footage of Guerrero running bases on Sunday. And on Monday Schneider said those drills went well.
“He said he felt great which is awesome,” Schneider said. “Hopefully he’s running the bases a lot this year so he has to keep doing it. But, yeah, probably in the next few days you can probably see him in there, as long as he feels good after the workout today.”
Guerrero injured his knee running to second during a spring training game on March 3 and pulled himself out of playing for the Dominican Republic at the World Baseball Classic shortly after. However, the 23-year-old has always maintained the injury wasn’t serious and that his decision to withdraw from the tournament was more precautionary.
“I’m going to take it easy. I’m not going to try to rush things,” Guerrero said on March 5 through interpreter Hector Lebron. “I’ll keep working on getting my treatment and when my knee says it’s ready, then I’ll be ready.”
The Blue Jays have two more weeks of spring training games on the schedule and Schneider’s update seems to suggest Guerrero will be ready in time for the season opener on March 30 in St. Louis.
The Blue Jays will host the Boston Red Sox in spring training action Monday with catcher Alejandro Kirk making his debut after arriving at camp late following the birth of his child. Kirk will catch Alek Manoah to start the game and will hit third in a lineup that includes multiple Blue Jays regulars.
You can watch the game on Sportsnet and SN NOW — or listen to it live on the radio and audio streaming on Sportsnet 590 The Fan — beginning at 1:07 p.m. ET/ 9:07 a.m. PT.
