Blue Jays roster set for opening day — without injured George Springer

By: Laura Armstrong - Staff Reporter, Toronto Star Posted: 6:13 PM CDT Wednesday, Mar. 31, 2021 Last Modified: 10:40 PM CDT Thursday, Apr. 1, 2021

Advertise with us

The Blue Jays are back.

Read this article for free:

or

Already have an account? Log in here »

To continue reading, please subscribe:

*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.

*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 31/03/2021 (1684 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Blue Jays are back.

Their promising young core has been complemented by veteran free-agent signings and remains backed by a top-10 farm system. Expectations couldn’t be higher as the season began Thursday at Yankee Stadium: ace Hyun-Jin Ryu vs. Gerrit Cole and the Bronx Bombers.

Ross Stripling will get the ball for the Jays against Corey Kluber in the second scheduled game on Saturday afternoon, while late rotation addition T.J. Zeuch is likely to face the Yankees’ Domingo German in Sunday afternoon’s series finale.

Steve Nesius - THE CANADIAN PRESS
George Springer, still recovering from an oblique injury, will wait at least six games to make his Blue Jays regular-season debut. — Steve Nesius - THE CANADIAN PRESS George Springer, still recovering from an oblique injury, will wait at least six games to make his Blue Jays regular-season debut.

The Jays are without centre-fielder George Springer, the biggest free-agent addition in franchise history, because of a Grade 2 oblique strain. The club is taking a cautious approach with an eye on long-term success.

No. 2 starter Robbie Ray also opens the season on the injured list with a bruised elbow. Both stints are backdated to March 29, so they will miss at least six games.

Springer travelled with the team, but the decision was made Wednesday to err on the side of caution. An MRI on Monday showed Springer’s injury was improving, and he is able to participate in baseball activities. Going forward, he’ll need to face live batting practice and see how he responds before being activated.

“He’s a gamer, he wants to go, but he understood the reason we’re doing it and he agreed with it,” manager Charlie Montoyo said Wednesday.

Right-handers Julian Merryweather and Joel Payamps filled the remaining two roster spots when the squad was announced just hours before the opener, bringing the Jays to 14 pitchers in total.

Catcher Reese McGuire and infielder Breyvic Valera were left out in the cold. Both players are out of options and were designated for assignment to open up space on the 40-man roster for lefty Tim Mayza and infielder Joe Panik. They now need to pass through waivers to be eligible to be sent to the minors.

Toronto will also carry a five-man taxi squad on the road, likely including catching prospect Riley Adams and infielder Santiago Espinal plus bullpen options Tommy Milone, A.J. Cole (neither of whom are on the 40-man roster) and Travis Bergen.

Without further ado, here’s a closer look at the Jays who made the cut for opening day:

Blue Jays Season Preview