Blue Jays put Springer on IL with inflamed elbow
Jeff Passan discusses 10 Royals players not being able to play vs. the Blue Jays because of their vaccination status. (2:05)
MINNEAPOLIS — The Toronto Blue Jays placed All-Star outfielder George Springer on the 10-day injured list with inflammation in his right elbow prior to their game at Minnesota on Saturday night.
Springer has been bothered by the elbow for much of the summer. He’s scheduled to receive an anti-inflammatory injection this weekend to aid the healing. Springer missed four of the previous five games with the injury, going 1-for-4 against the Twins on Thursday night.
Springer will be eligible to return Aug. 15. The four-time All-Star, who has been Toronto’s primary center fielder, is batting .251 with 18 home runs and 49 RBIs in 89 games. Entering play Saturday, he was tied for 10th in the AL with 59 runs.
The 32-year-old is in the second season of a $150 million, six-year deal. He played just 78 games last season because of quad and ankle injuries.
Infielder Otto Lopez was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo to take Springer’s roster spot, and Whit Merrifield played center field against the Twins. The Blue Jays also optioned right-handed reliever Trent Thornton to Triple-A to make room for right-hander Mitch White, who was recalled to start the game in Minnesota in his Blue Jays debut.
Meanwhile, Blue Jays left-hander Tim Mayza was removed from Saturday night’s 7-3 loss to the Twins with a right shoulder dislocation.