For the second time already this season, Toronto Blue Jays fans had to collectively hold their breaths as George Springer went down to the dirt inside the batters box, while clutching his left foot. The first time it happened, back on Apr. 11, Springer got back up, finished his at-bat and then stayed in the game for a few innings before being pulled.
On Saturday, (May 2) the Blue Jays were extra cautious this time as Springer took an 88 mph slider off that same foot and after being checked on by the teams medical staff, he left the game. After the game reports came back that there was no further damage done to his foot.
John Schneider said X-Rays revealed no further damage to George Springer’s toe or foot. Pitch struck off the guard he’s wearing over the cleat.
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) May 2, 2026
Blue Jays planned to rest him Sunday anyway and “we'll see how he is throughout the day tomorrow and on Monday,” the manager added.
Regardless, Springer won't be playing in Sunday's series finale against the Twins. Manager John Schneider said that they had already planned to use Sunday as a rest day for Springer and this allows them to stick to that plan. Schneider remained optimistic that Springer would bounce back quickly, telling reporters, "hopefully he’ll be all right in a day or two.”
Blue Jays got by without Springers bat - but that likely won't last
Without Springer in the lineup, the Blue Jays managed to pull out an 11-4 victory over the Twins, exploding for eight runs in the top of the eighth inning. It pulled them to a 16-17 record and gurantees that, at worst, they will split the series with the Twins, making it four straight series that they haven't lost.
They went 2-1 against the LA Angels, Cleveland Guardians, and Boston Red Sox and would love to make it 3-1 against the Twins when Trey Yesavage takes the ball for the Blue Jays against the electric Joe Ryan on Sunday afternoon. They'll know they won't have Springer in the lineup (at least not to start) but the Blue Jays offence has started to click over the last few weeks. Since Apr. 19 the Blue Jays are 9-5 and have outscored their opponents 56-44. They've slashed .256/.315/.396 - not the greatest numbers, but consider in the 20 games prior to that, the Blue Jays were hitting .246/309/.370 and had been outscored 105-73.
It had only been three starts for Springer since he returned from the injury. In his first official game in which he was activated off the Injured List, he had a pinch hit single in the Blue Jays' 8-1 win over the Boston Red Sox. Springer then had three hits in the first two games with against the Twins before he took the pitch off his foot and left. In his absence, the Blue Jays mainly used Eloy Jiménez as their DH. He started in 12 games, while Yohendrick Pinango, called up for his MLB debut, played in two games.
Jiménez had a solid, if otherwise, unspectacular performance as he drove in three runs, while hitting .290/.343/.290. He had a .360 BABIP but every single one of his hits were singles and the Blue Jays needed someone with more pop in that spot than what he was offering. Jiménez was Designated for Assignment once Springer returned. He cleared waivers on Sunday and elected free agency.
Eloy Jimenez, who was DFA'ed by the Blue Jays earlier this week, has cleared waivers and elected free agency
— Arden Zwelling (@ArdenZwelling) May 2, 2026
So the Blue Jays will have to hope that it is only a few days this time for Springer. They are already down Alejandro Kirk, Addison Barger, and Nathan Lukes from their lineup. They currently have Pinango, while Davis Schneider, and Lenyn Sosa can fill in if needed, but it's still difficult to replace the production of the Silver Slugger winning 36-year-old Springer over the long haul.