Toronto Blue Jays Place Steve Pearce on DL, Josh Donaldson Nearing Return

Surprise, surprise. The Toronto Blue Jays are dealing with another injury.

The injuries continue to mount for the Toronto Blue Jays as the team announced on Monday that Steve Pearce has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right calf, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi. Right-hander Leonel Campos was recalled from triple-A Buffalo to take Pearce’s roster spot.

The injury could not have come at a worse time for Pearce, who looked like he was finally starting to put things together after he registered a hit in each of his last three games. The Blue Jays hope the 34-year-old utility man will only require a short 10-day stint on the DL, but given the unpredictability of calf injuries, which is something the Blue Jays are experiencing with Josh Donaldson right now, the team is uncertain of when Pearce will return.

Donaldson nearing return

Speaking of Donaldson, the Bringer of Rain could return to the Blue Jays’ lineup as soon as this weekend, according to manager John Gibbons. The Jays’ skipper wouldn’t commit to this weekend as a definitive return date, but if the team feels Donaldson does not require a rehab assignment before joining the team he could be back in the lineup for this weekend’s series against the Baltimore Orioles.

More from Tip of the Tower

• Cam Phillips making his mark on Toronto Argonauts offence
• Toronto Argonauts: 4 storylines ahead of matchup against Redblacks
• Federico Bernardeschi ready for new challenge with Toronto FC
• Toronto Argonauts overcome Roughriders in entertaining Touchdown Atlantic
• Buffalo Bills: Von Miller drawing inspiration from Bruce Smith

The Jays’ superstar third baseman has been out of the lineup since April 13 with a strained right calf. After weeks of rehab, Donaldson is progressing closer and closer to a return and is apparently ramping up his hitting and fielding drills.

Considering how important Donaldson is to the Blue Jays, and how cautious the team has been with him up to this point, I wouldn’t expect the team to all of a sudden rush him back on the field. In other words, be excited Donaldson is nearing a return, but it’s probably best to be cautiously optimistic.

In the immediate future, Darwin Barney, Ryan Goins and utility man Chris Coghlan will step in wherever they’re needed to fill the voids left by Pearce and Donaldson. When it comes to lineup construction, the loss of Pearce impacts the Jays’ lineup against lefties and will likely mean more at bats for Ezequiel Carrera. However, Donaldson returning to the lineup would be a nice remedy to this problem.

Next: 3 Blue Jays players who should be acknowledged

What do you make of the Toronto Blue Jays ridiculous bad luck with injuries? When do you think Donaldson will return to the lineup? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.