Eyes on the Bisons as Blue Jays' Springer, Manoah, Bieber work their way back
Even with the Blue Jays in the thick of pennant race in mid-August, some of the attention around the American League East leaders these days is being diverted by their triple-A farm team in Buffalo.
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The Queen City has suddenly become the place to be outside of the Rogers Centre, with several Jays — George Springer, Shane Bieber and Alek Manoah — all using the Bisons as a springboard to their eventual return to the majors.
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Manoah, for example, made his first rehab start in Buffalo on Wednesday for the Bisons, though it didn't go well for the one-time ace of the Jays pitching staff and Cy Young Award finalist.
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The right-hander recorded just five outs, yielding three runs on two hits, while issuing three walks, hitting a batter and recording one strikeout in a 9-4 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
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Heading into the outing, the goal was to have Manoah throw anywhere from 70 to 75 pitches. Instead, he managed just 49 pitches, with only 27 going for strikes.
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Manoah underwent UCL reconstruction on hios right elbow last season after a five-game return to the bigs.
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His 30-day rehab clock began with a start in class-A on July 22.
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Springer, meanwhile, was finally cleared on Wednesday by Major League Baseball to return to play after taking a pitch to the head on July 28. The plan is for the veteran outfielder to pack his bags and head to Buffalo.
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Springer might get a chance to DH on Thursday for the Bisons and, all being well, should be back in the Blue Jays lineup within a few days.
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The former World Series MVP was in the midst of a renaissance season when he took a fastball off the side of his face in Baltimore by rookie Kade Strowd in the ninth inning. Camden Yards at Oriole Park was left in stunned silence.
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Thankfully, Springer did slightly turn his head after Strowd threw his 96-mph fastball, which is why the ball hit Springer's left ear flap. In other words, it could have been worse.
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Per baseball's concussion protocols, Springer had to check off many boxes before receiving the green light and was placed on the seven-day disabled list in the wake of his concussion diagnosis.
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What followed involved mandatory baseline testing and a specific return-to-play process aimed to prevent a premature return to play and ensure players are fully recovered before resuming activities.
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