The Toronto Blue Jays completed a three-game sweep of the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, though they celebrated on the field without outfielder George Springer, who left in the fourth inning with a right-hand contusion.
Springer, who grounded out in his only other plate appearance, was hit on the hand by a 94-m.p.h. four-seamer from White Sox starter Michael Kopech in the bottom of the third inning. He stayed in the game and later scored on Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s two-run double but left after the top of the fourth inning.
The 33-year-old immediately underwent precautionary X-rays, which returned negative, the Blue Jays announced.
UPDATE: OF George Springer was removed from today's game with a right hand contusion.
He underwent precautionary X-rays which came back negative.
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 26, 2023
George Springer appears to have gotten hit on the right hand by this Michael Kopech pitch in the third inning. He left the game the next inning. pic.twitter.com/4LroV6xjde
— Shi Davidi (@ShiDavidi) April 26, 2023
With an off-day on Thursday, Springer will receive some much-needed recovery time before the Blue Jays welcome a familiar face, Teoscar Hernández, and the Seattle Mariners to town for a weekend series that begins Friday.
One player who won’t accompany them is former Blue Jay Robbie Ray, who will miss the rest of this season due to flexor tendon surgery. Ray – who played two partial seasons with Toronto – was named the 2021 AL Cy Young Award winner.
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said post-game he will wait until Friday before determining Springer’s status for the series opener against the Mariners.
Schneider said the #BlueJays will "wait and see" how Springer's right hand is feeling after he was hit with a pitch and exited the game. X-rays were negative and it's a contusion. "Off day comes at a good time for him," the manager said.
— Kaitlyn McGrath (@kaitlyncmcgrath) April 26, 2023
Springer, signing a six-year, $150-million contract with the Blue Jays over the 2020-21 off-season, has battled injuries for much of his tenure north of the border. He missed significant time in 2021 due to quad and knee issues while battling an elbow injury for much of last season.
The four-time All-Star also suffered a concussion after colliding with shortstop Bo Bichette during Game 2 of the 2022 Wild Card Series versus Seattle.
The 6-foot-3 righty entered Wednesday’s contest hitting a robust .219/.279/.323 with three home runs, nine RBIs and a 70 wRC+ across 24 games. His underlying metrics have been far more promising, though, carrying a .257 xAVG, .460 xSLG and .336 xwOBA – suggesting he’s been unlucky early on.
