Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Over illness, but out of lineup
Rotowire
Loperfido (illness) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Athletics.
The left-handed-hitting Loperfido will miss out on a third straight start, but his absence likely has more to do with the Athletics sending a second consecutive lefty starter (Jeffrey Springs) to the bump rather than any concern about his health. Loperfido was scratched from the lineup ahead of Friday's game due to an illness, but he was deployed as a pinch hitter in Saturday's 4-3 loss, drawing a walk in his lone plate appearance.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Sitting again Saturday
Rotowire
Loperfido (illness) isn't in the starting lineup versus the Athletics on Saturday.
Loperfido was scratched from Friday's contest due to an illness and is beginning on the bench again Saturday. However, it's worth noting that Toronto is facing a lefty starter in the Athletics' Jacob Lopez, so Loperfido may not have started regardless of the illness. It remains to be seen if Loperfido will be back in the lineup for the Blue Jays' final game before the All-Star break Sunday afternoon, as the A's are slated to start another lefty (Jeffrey Springs) in that contest.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Scratched with illness
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Loperfido was scratched from the lineup ahead of Friday's game against the Athletics due to an illness, Mitch Bannon of The Athletic reports.
Loperfido has been hot since arriving in Toronto on Sunday, going 5-for-14 with a homer and five RBI in four games. However, he'll take a day off Friday to recover from his illness, which will allow Myles Straw to enter the starting nine as the Jays' center fielder.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Delivers first MLB homer of '25
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Loperfido went 2-for-4 with a home run and three total RBI in Monday's 8-4 win over the White Sox.
Loperfido recorded a multi-hit performance and launched his first home run of the season in just his second game since being called up from Triple-A Buffalo. He may not be locked into an everyday role with the Blue Jays just yet, but his ability to play all three outfield spots could allow him to gain traction in the lineup if he's able to maintain a hot bat.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Drives in run in 2025 debut
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Loperfido went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Sunday's win over the Angels.
Getting the start in right field and batting eighth in his season debut for the Blue Jays, Loperfido made an instant impact when he brought Myles Straw home with a fourth-inning single, although he got caught in a rundown and tagged out trying to advance to second base. Loperfido had been on a roll at Triple-A Buffalo, slashing .303/.343/.455 with seven doubles and a homer over his last 15 games prior to his promotion Sunday, but it's not clear how much playing time he'll see during his current stint in the majors as Toronto has plenty of options for the corner outfield spots.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Called up Sunday
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Loperfido from Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday. He'll start in right field and bat eighth in the Blue Jays' series finale versus the Angels.
The 26-year-old has spent the first few months of the season at the Triple-A level, and he'll receive his first look in the majors of 2025 with Andres Gimenez (ankle) hitting the injured list in a corresponding move. Loperfido has a .278/.354/.422 slash line with six home runs and 10 steals in 76 games with Buffalo this season.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Fails to make Opening Day roster
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The Blue Jays optioned Loperfido to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Loperfido was thought to be a frontrunner to either play center field if Daulton Varsho (shoulder) wasn't ready or left field if Varsho was on the active roster, but he ultimately didn't make the cut. The 25-year-old has slashed .207/.303/.414 with no home runs and a 9:4 K:BB over 14 games this spring.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Top option to fill in as CF
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Loperfido has received most of the playing time in center field this spring while Daulton Varsho (shoulder) has been limited to DH duties, and the former Astro is the favorite to be the Blue Jays' Opening Day center fielder, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Loperfido hasn't done much with his bat in Grapefruit League action, batting .160 (4-for-25) with a 3:7 BB:K and zero home runs, but three of his four hits have gone for extra bases. The 25-year-old struggled at the plate last season as well after being acquired from Houston, but Toronto still believes in his potential after he slashed .256/.352/.498 with 18 homers and 13 steals in 71 games for Triple-A Sugar Land prior to being part of the Yusei Kikuchi deal.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Good to go Friday
Rotowire
Loperfido (neck/back) is starting in center field and batting leadoff in Friday's split-squad game against the Yankees, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
The 25-year-old has been sidelined since Tuesday when he collided with the outfield wall, but he's returning to action Friday after taking a few days to rest up. Loperfido posted a .614 OPS in 81 regular-season games between the Blue Jays and Astros as a rookie last season and could secure a starting outfield job during spring training.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Could return to games by Friday
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Wednesday that Loperfido (neck/back) will go through a full workout Thursday and could return to Grapefruit League play as soon as Friday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Loperfido suffered a neck/upper-back injury Tuesday when he collided with the outfield wall, but he emerged without any serious injuries and is not expected to miss much time. The 25-year-old is competing for a starting job in Toronto's outfield.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: No concussion symptoms
Rotowire
Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Tuesday that Loperfido (neck/back) is not experiencing any concussion symptoms, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Loperfido was involved in a scary situation during Tuesday's game versus the Cardinals when he stumbled and crashed head-first into the outfield wall while chasing down a flyball. However, he appears to have avoided a serious injury, escaping with merely some neck and upper-back discomfort. Loperfido will be re-evaluated Wednesday but "hopefully doesn't miss much time," per Schneider.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Exits after slamming into wall
Rotowire
Loperfido left Tuesday's Grapefruit League game against the Cardinals after awkwardly slamming into the outfield wall, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Per Matheson, Loperfido was holding his neck/head area and exited with trainers. He is competing for a starting outfield job this spring.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Dealing with neck injury
Rotowire
Loperfido was removed from Tuesday's Grapefruit League game versus Cardinals with neck discomfort after colliding with the outfield wall, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.careports.
Loperfido was attempting to catch what wound up being a triple for Victor Scott and slammed into the wall awkwardly. It appears at this point that he has avoided a concussion, but it's not clear how long the neck issue might sideline the young outfielder.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Gets start in center field Saturday
Rotowire
Loperfido went 1-for-2 with a double in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees.
More importantly, the 25-year-old got the start in center field, a spot the Blue Jays will likely need to fill for the first week or two of the season while Daulton Varsho completes his recovery from shoulder surgery. Loperfido, acquired from the Astros last year in the Yusei Kikuchi trade, slashed just .197/.236/.343 over 144 plate appearances for Toronto in 2024, but his defensive versatility in the outfield and 20-20 upside if he puts everything together appear to make him the early favorite to be Varsho's understudy. Jonatan Clase, Nathan Lukes and Myles Straw also figure to get looks in center field during spring training.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: On bench Friday
Rotowire
Loperfido is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Marlins.
Loperfido is idle for the third time in seven games, giving way to Jonatan Clase in center field Friday. While Loperfido's playing time in center has been slipping, he's gotten a couple of looks in left field over the last four games.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Heads to bench vs. righty
Rotowire
Loperfido is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Red Sox.
Loperfido had picked up starts in each of the Blue Jays' previous three matchups with right-handed pitchers, but he'll hit the bench Monday while the Red Sox send righty Tanner Houck to the mound. The newly recalled Jonatan Clase will pick up a start in center field at the expense of Loperfido, who could fade into more of a part-time role in the final week of the regular season while he's in the midst of an extended dry spell at the dish. Since stringing together four consecutive two-hit games from Aug. 20 through 24, Loperfido has slashed .164/.203/.246 with a 34.4 percent strikeout rate.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Back in action Wednesday
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Loperfido (hip) is starting in center field and batting eighth Wednesday against the Rangers.
The 25-year-old suffered an adductor injury during Saturday's matchup with the Cardinals and is rejoining the lineup Wednesday after a couple days off. Loperfido should continue seeing regular action in Toronto's outfield down the stretch, and he'll likely see more starts in center field since Daulton Varsho (shoulder) will miss the rest of the season.
Loperfido (hip) is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Cardinals, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.
The 25-year-old departed Saturday's contest due to left adductor discomfort and will be held out of the starting nine for at least one game. Loperfido will have Monday's team off day to aid in his recovery ahead of Tuesday's series opener at Texas.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Departs with injury
Rotowire
Loperfido was removed from Saturday's game against St. Louis with left adductor discomfort, Mike Wilner of the Toronto Star reports.
Loperfido appeared to be grabbing at his hip after hitting a double in the third inning of Saturday's contest, though he managed to stay in the game until the fifth frame. If his injury proves to be severe enough to prevent him from playing Sunday, Nathan Lukes would likely be the next man in line to start in left field.
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