Blue Jays fans were disappointed to learn that star player Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was scratched from the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the New York Yankees due to a sore right hand.
The 22-year-old third baseman had been experiencing discomfort in his hand for the past few days and was ultimately deemed unfit to play by the team’s medical staff. This news came as a surprise to many, as Guerrero Jr. had been performing exceptionally well this season with a batting average of .337 and 16 home runs.
According to Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo, the decision to scratch Guerrero Jr. was made in the best interest of the player’s health. He stated, “We don’t want to take any chances with Vlad’s hand. He’s been dealing with some soreness and we want to make sure he’s fully recovered before putting him back in the lineup.”
Guerrero Jr. himself expressed disappointment at not being able to play, but understood the team’s decision. He assured fans that he would be back on the field as soon as he was feeling better.
In the meantime, the Blue Jays have called up infielder Santiago Espinal from their alternate training site to fill in for Guerrero Jr. Espinal has been performing well in the minor leagues and is expected to make his major league debut in Tuesday’s game.
This is not the first time Guerrero Jr. has dealt with an injury this season. In April, he was sidelined for a few games due to a knee injury. However, he bounced back quickly and has been a key player for the Blue Jays ever since.
Fans will have to wait and see how long Guerrero Jr. will be out of the lineup, but the team is hopeful that he will make a speedy recovery and be back on the field in no time. In the meantime, the Blue Jays will have to rely on their depth and the skills of their other players to continue their successful season.
