Blue Jays Keeping Door Open For Addison Barger Injury Replacement

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The Toronto Blue Jays saw an offensive breakout on Saturday, scoring 14 runs against the Los Angeles Angels as a World Series hero returned to the lineup.

After joining many other key players on the injured list earlier in this season, Addison Barger returned with two walks and a run in three at-bats, plus a standout defensive play from the outfield, as his team earned a blowout victory.

“Activated Saturday after more than a month on the injured list with an ankle injury, Barger re-introduced himself to Jays fans with one of the most incredible, highlight-reel throws from the outfield this season,” as Frank Zicarelli put it for the Toronto Sun. “Somewhat of a surprise, in the wake of the Barger activation was the corresponding move that saw Yohendrick Pinango optioned to Triple-A Buffalo.”

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While Barger was a key offensive force for the Blue Jays in last year’s World Series —slashing .480/.536/.680 with a home run and 12 hits in 25 at-bats — he has not been as strong offensively so far this season, while Pinango was impressive at the plate in a brief debut.

Pinango slashed .423/.444/.462 during his first stint in the majors and after demoting him in favor of Barger, manager John Schneider praised the young outfielder and opened the possibility that he will return to the big-league roster down the line.

“We’re just looking at the runway for him and the runway for others and it didn’t really match up,’’ Schneider said of Pinango on Saturday, per Zicarelli. “I could see him being part of us again at some point. He definitely showed well.”

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Then, suddenly on Sunday, there might have been a new reason to bring Pinango back. Following a stellar assist from the outfield in the second inning on Saturday, Barger was scratched with a potential injury.

“Addison Barger removed from Jays’ lineup due to right elbow soreness,” Sportsnet’s Ben Nicholson-Smith reported on X, formerly Twitter.

In the wake of that update, MLB.com’s Keegan Matheson noted that Barger had a large ice wrap around his right elbow following Saturday’s game, raising more questions about the seriousness of the problem.

News that Barger could be sidelined once again instantly raised questions about Pinango’s availability right after the Blue Jays’ decision to demote him. On Sunday, the team started Myles Straw and Jesus Sanchez alongside Daulton Varsho in the outfield. But depending on the extent of Barger’s injury, perhaps Pinango could return to the roster very shortly after leaving it.

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