Toronto Blue Jays: Aaron Sanchez Not Expected to Return to DL
By Paul Taylor
Toronto Blue Jays fans let out a collective sigh of relief, as Aaron Sanchez’s exit after just one inning on Sunday was not related to his ongoing blister issues.
“Oh no, here we go again!” The Toronto Blue Jays and their fans understandably feared the worst, when Aaron Sanchez was forced to leave Sunday’s game after just one inning.
Sanchez was making his comeback from the disabled list, after undergoing minor surgery to remove part of the nail on his right middle finger. The surgery was done to alleviate a blister issue he had been dealing with, since his final start in spring training.
As the 24-year old left the action against the Tampa Bay Rays, he was visibly frustrated. He slammed his glove down on the dugout bench, before quickly departing for the clubhouse.
Fortunately for the Blue jays, the reason for removing Sanchez was not as a result of new problems with his blister. As reported by Sportsnet‘s Arden Zwelling, the issue was a cracked and bloodied finger nail.
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As a result, the 2010 first round draft pick is unlikely to have to return to the disabled list. However, as noted by Zwelling, Blue Jays’ manager John Gibbons wouldn’t commit to the pitcher making his next start.
After Sanchez left, the heavily criticized bullpen delivered, with its best effort of this young season. The effort started with Ryan Tepera, who pitched a career-best 3.1 innings, and ended with Roberto Osuna, who recorded his third save of 2017.
Sanchez discussed his injury and the effort of the bullpen after the game. Speaking to the Toronto Sun‘s Rob Longley and other members of the media, he said:
"“It was tough for me to have to put these guys through a situation like that, but it was one of those things that we didn’t know this was going to happen. (The bullpen) stepped up and did their part.”"
Interestingly, all 13 of the Barstow, California native’s pitches — seven of which were for strikes — were fastballs. As noted by Zwelling, his average velocity was 95 mph, only slightly below his career average.
Keeping with the positive theme, Sunday’s 3-1 victory over the Rays, gave the Blue Jays their first winning streak of the season. It also represented their first series win of the year, while helping them avoid the worst March/April start in franchise history.
Looking ahead, the Blue Jays now wait to find out how long Sanchez will be absent this time. He’s been officially listed as day-to-day, but as a precaution will once again see the surgeon who performed the recent procedure on his finger.
Next: Has April Sealed the Blue Jays' Fate?
Even though the new issue was unrelated to Sanchez’s blister, what’s your take? Are you concerned he will have ongoing problems for the foreseeable future, or are you confident the finger issue will be quickly resolved? Share your thoughts in the comments section.