George Springer Returns as Blue Jays Designate Jiménez for Assignment
George Springer is back, and the Blue Jays made the move on April 29 after his 10-day injured list stint that began when he fractured a bone in his left big toe. The return gives Toronto its regular outfielder/designated hitter again while forcing Eloy Jiménez off the roster in a corresponding move.
Springer’s Left Big Toe
Springer went on the injured list on April 12 after fouling a ball off his foot and fracturing a bone in the left big toe. Toronto had been using Jiménez as the replacement since then, but the roster spot flipped once Springer was healthy enough to return.
He is likely to spend most of his time at designated hitter, which keeps the Blue Jays from having to ask more of his foot right away. That usage also narrows the lineup decision to one spot rather than asking him to cover the outfield on a regular basis immediately.
Jiménez Loses His Spot
Jiménez did not play the field for Toronto, and his run with the club was limited to 35 plate appearances. In that stretch he posted a.290/.343/.290 slash line with an 82 wRC+, a short sample that gave the Blue Jays a stopgap bat but not the sort of impact they can count on every day.
The roster move also closed the book on a player who arrived for Springer’s absence and stayed mostly in the role the club assigned him. Jiménez had only eight innings in the outfield in 2024 and none in 2025, so the fit was always centered on offense rather than versatility.
Toronto’s Next Returns
The Blue Jays entered the move at 13-16, a start that has left them working through injuries and trying to steady the roster one return at a time. Trey Yesavage had recently come back, and José Berríos and Addison Barger could be next to return, with Nathan Lukes and Alejandro Kirk also among the players the club hopes can rejoin in the not-too-distant future.
For now, Springer’s return changes the middle of the lineup and gives Toronto back one of the players it had been waiting on since April 12. Jiménez is the one who pays for it, and the Blue Jays get a cleaner roster shape as they try to climb out of the opening hole.
