The Toronto Blue Jays reinstated George Springer, their designated hitter, from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. Springer, a four-time all-star, had been sidelined for 15 games due to a fractured left big toe. Eloy Jimenez was designated for assignment to make room for Springer’s return.
Although not initially in the starting lineup for the series finale against the Boston Red Sox, Springer made a pinch-hit appearance in the fifth inning. On the first pitch from Boston’s Jovani Moran, Springer hit an RBI single to center field, extending Toronto’s lead to 6-1.
This marked Springer’s first plate appearance since sustaining the toe injury in an April 11 game against Minnesota. Despite fouling a ball off his foot in that game’s third inning, Springer completed his at-bat before being replaced by Myles Straw.
As Toronto’s leadoff hitter, Springer had a batting average of .185 with two home runs and six RBIs. Notably, he played a significant role in the Blue Jays’ journey to Game 7 of the 2025 World Series, boasting impressive stats of .309 batting average, 32 home runs, and 84 RBIs during the regular season, including a crucial homer in Game 7 of the American League Championship Series versus Seattle.
George Springer, the 2017 World Series MVP with the Houston Astros, is in the final season of a lucrative six-year, $150 million contract. On the other hand, Eloy Jimenez, a Silver Slugger with the White Sox in 2020, posted a .290 average with no home runs and three RBIs in 12 games for Toronto, all of his hits being singles.
In another baseball update, Los Angeles Angels pitcher Yusei Kikuchi left Wednesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox after two innings due to tightness in his left shoulder. The former Blue Jays left-hander was replaced by Mitch Farris, who had been called up from triple-A Salt Lake as Joey Lucchesi was designated for assignment.
Before exiting, Kikuchi held the White Sox scoreless with two hits and a walk, along with one strikeout. His fastball velocity decreased from 94.9 mph in the first inning to 92.8 mph in the second. Kikuchi, a 34-year-old from Japan, is currently 0-3 with a 5.81 ERA in seven starts this season, having pitched for Seattle, Toronto, and Houston before joining the Angels in November 2024.
Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox placed left-handed pitcher Garrett Crochet on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation. Nate Eaton, a utilityman, was recalled from triple-A Worcester to fill Crochet’s roster spot. Despite being the American League Cy Young Award runner-up last year, Crochet struggled with a 6.30 ERA in six starts this season.
Crochet rebounded with a strong performance, striking out seven batters over six scoreless innings in a recent game against Baltimore. This victory followed a disappointing outing against Minnesota earlier in the season. The Red Sox also made significant changes, firing manager Alex Cora and five coaches after the game.
Eaton, who previously played for Kansas City and Boston, was batting .292 with three home runs and 12 RBIs in 27 games at the triple-A level, earning his promotion to the major league team.