Toronto Blue Jays designated hitter George Springer is close to a return to the field. Very close.
It is expected that Springer will be activated from the injured list on Wednesday in time to play in a 3:07 p.m. game against the Boston Red Sox. He has been out of the lineup since he fractured the big toe on his left foot on April 11 in a game against the Minnesota Twins when he hit a ball off the foot.
George Springer left today’s game in Toronto with a left big toe fracture pic.twitter.com/UzYOecn50I
At the time of the injury, Springer, 36, was off to a slower start than usual on the season. In 14 games, he was hitting .185 (10-of-54) with four doubles, two home runs and six RBIs, and the Blue Jays stood at 6-8.
They are 6-8 without him, as well, not including the result of the Wednesday night game against the Red Sox.
Springer is a four-time All-Star who has finished seventh in the American League Most Valuable Player voting twice, including in 2025 when he hit .309 with 32 home runs, 84 RBIs and 18 stolen bases in 140 games for the American League champions. He also won a Silver Slugger.
In the postseason, Springer was a key contributor for the Blue Jays despite battling injury. In 16 games, he was 19-of-67 (.285) at the plate with four homers and 10 runs driven in.
In his absence, the leadoff spot has been manned by committee, with Nathan Lukes, Myles Straw, Ernie Clement and Davis Schneider taking turns.
Manager John Schneider told reporters Tuesday about Springer’s upcoming return on Wednesday, provided there are no last-minute setbacks. He has been hitting and running on the field to get ready.
George Springer hit and ran again today and could be activated tomorrow if all goes well, John Schneider said. #BlueJays
Last Friday, Schneider told MLB Network Radio that Springer was putting in the work toward his return but wouldn’t be 100% as soon as he comes back.
He will need the occasional rest day as the toe continues to heal, Schneider said.
“It’s going to be a little bit tricky for a couple of weeks for him,” Schneider said. “It’s going to be kind of a pain in the toe, if you will, for a couple of weeks until it fully heals.”
Entering the game on Tuesday, the Blue Jays were in fourth place in the American League East, 6 ½ games behind the New York Yankees.
After the game on Wednesday, the Blue Jays will head to Minneapolis for four games with the Twins and then south for three games with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Remember to join our BLUE JAYS on ROUNDTABLE community, which is FREE! You can post your own thoughts, in text or video form, and you can engage with our Roundtable staff, as well as other Blue Jays fans. If prompted to download the Roundtable APP, that's free too!