Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Avoids Hamstring Injury
PITTSBURGH – Good news for the Blue Jays of Toronto. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., after undergoing an MRI due to discomfort in his left hamstring, shows no damage. Despite this favorable news, Guerrero Jr. did not participate in Tuesday night’s game, where the Blue Jays defeated the Pirates 7-3 in Pittsburgh. The Blue Jays’ manager, John Schneider, commented that the decision to preserve Guerrero Jr. was out of precaution. The player, a five-time All-Star, is expected to return to the field on Wednesday afternoon for the last game of the series. Guerrero Jr. had to leave Monday’s game in the fifth inning, in the 5-2 loss to the Pirates, due to the same hamstring issue. Previously, he had made two excellent defensive plays. In the third inning, Guerrero stretched to receive a throw from his teammate Bo Bichette, managing to retire Jared Triolo. The player continued on the field in the fourth inning, but was replaced by Ty France when it was his turn to bat in the top of the fifth. France played first base on Tuesday, getting a single in four at-bats.So far this season, Guerrero Jr. has a batting average of .298, with 21 home runs and 69 RBIs in 124 games. The Blue Jays signed a 14-year, $500 million contract extension with the 26-year-old player earlier this year. Tuesday’s victory brought the Blue Jays to a 74-53 record, the best in the American League.We are being very careful with him, and I’m glad we took him out of the game when we did,” Schneider said about Guerrero. “I think he felt a little more at ease, as did we, with the MRI results. We can’t afford to lose him for long.
John Schneider, Blue Jays Manager
