Toronto Blue Jays reliever Yimi Garcia has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to right elbow ulnar neuritis, the team announced Monday.
In a corresponding move, the Blue Jays selected Brandon Eisert to the major-league roster and he will be active against the Boston Red Sox on Monday night.
An MRI Sunday revealed no structural damage to Garicia’s elbow after the right-hander left his appearance in the ninth inning against the Cleveland Guardians due to soreness.
According to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, manager John Schneider called the result of the MRI, “great news.”
Facing Guardians second baseman Andres Gimenez with two outs in the ninth inning, Garcia was pulled from the game after a first-pitch ball, with both Schneider and trainer Jose Ministral visiting the mound and eventually removing the current Blue Jays closer from the game.
The 33-year-old allowed four hits and two earned while getting two outs before the injury forced him to exit.
Garcia has been Toronto’s best bullpen arm in 2024, posting a 2.57 ERA, a 3-0 record, 37 strikeouts and five saves over 28.0 innings this season.
He has been a stabilizing force in what has been a shaky season for Blue Jays relievers, as Jordan Romano is currently on the 15-day injured list and Erik Swanson has been demoted to triple-A Buffalo.
Eisert, 26, has a 6.35 ERA through 19 appearances with triple-A Buffalo this season. He has struck out 35 hitters in 22.2 innings but has also issued 14 walks.
Right-hander Yariel Rodriguez is also back with the team in Toronto and is expected to be activated later this week. He had made six rehab appearances after going on the injured list with thoracic spine inflammation. In those outings, the 27-year-old allowed just three earned runs in 14 innings, racking up 23 strikeouts in the process.
Davidi said he is a candidate to start this weekend’s series in Cleveland.
Romano, who is out with elbow inflammation, long tossed from 90 to 120 feet Monday and could return to a mound as soon as Wednesday.
