Blue Jays reinstate Soria from injured list, Biggio week to week with ligament sprain

TORONTO — The Toronto Blue Jays reinstated reliever Joakim Soria from the 10-day injured list Wednesday and optioned fellow right-hander Connor Overton to triple-A Buffalo. 

Soria, acquired from the Arizona Diamondbacks just before the trade deadline on July 30, went on the 10-day disabled list on Aug. 4 due to right middle finger inflammation. 

Soria will likely make his return in a low-leverage situation, Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said in his late-afternoon availability before Toronto’s game against the Chicago White Sox at Rogers Centre.

Also Wednesday, the Blue Jays announced that infielder Cavan Biggio has been shut down from hitting for a week after suffering a Grade 1 ulnar collateral ligament sprain last Friday with the Bisons. 

Biggio sought a second opinion after undergoing an initial MRI exam and X-rays after injuring his left elbow while diving for a ball in the outfield.

It was the seventh game of a minor-league rehab assignment for Biggio, who was placed on the 10-day IL on Aug. 3 with mid-back tightness. His status is week to week, a team spokesman said.

Biggio, who has primarily played third base and right field this season, missed 17 games earlier this year due to a cervical spine ligament sprain. In 77 games, he has a .215 average with a .316 on-base percentage and a .666 OPS. 

Overton, meanwhile, did not allow a run in four relief appearances this season. He allowed four hits and struck out a pair over three shutout innings in Toronto’s 5-2 loss on Tuesday night.

Blue Jays slugger George Springer (knee sprain) took Wednesday off after completing sprint drills and batting cage work for two straight days this week. He was scheduled to run the bases Thursday morning before the four-game series finale, Montoyo said, adding that Springer would not be activated during the Chicago series.

“We’ve got to make sure he’s healthy because if he’s not healthy, he might play one game and then he might get hurt again,” Montoyo said. “So you have to be patient at the same time. 

“But he’s the one who knows his body. Whenever he tells you ‘OK I’m good to go the way I am right now,’ then he’ll be active.”

It’s Springer’s third stint on the injured list this season. He was out for the first month of the campaign due to an oblique strain. A week after being activated, he suffered a quadriceps strain and missed seven weeks. 

When healthy, he has been one of Toronto’s top players. Springer signed a US$150-million, six-year contract with the Blue Jays in the off-season.

His return would provide a big boost for a slumping team that’s fighting to stay in the American League wild-card picture. Entering play Wednesday night, the 65-59 Blue Jays were 5 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox in the race for the second wild-card spot. 

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Aug. 25, 2021. 

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Gregory Strong, The Canadian Press