Blue Jays return Donaldson to DL with calf tightness
Josh Donaldson just can't catch a break.
The Toronto Blue Jays placed the star third baseman on the 10-day disabled list with left calf tightness on Friday, marking the second time this season that injuries have sidelined the former AL MVP.
Left-hander Tim Mayza was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo in a corresponding move.
The move to DL Donaldson, which is retroactive to May 29, came as something of a surprise. He wasn't in the lineup Friday, but just 90 minutes before the move was announced, manager John Gibbons told reporters in Detroit that the 32-year-old was considered "day to day," according to Terry Koshan of the Toronto Sun.
But Donaldson sounded optimistic when speaking with reporters about the DL move following the Blue Jays' 5-2 loss Friday, saying the injury is improving and he doesn't expect to miss a ton of time.
"I think it'll be six days until I can play after today," he said, per Sportsnet's Hazel Mae.
Josh Donaldson said his calf is improving, but not to the point where he could sprint. He didn’t want to take up a roster spot so decision was made to DL him. With the way the team’s been playing “we need everybody”
— Hazel Mae (@thehazelmae) June 2, 2018
Donaldson sustained the injury while running the bases on Monday at Fenway Park. He appeared to slow up while rounding second on Justin Smoak's double, and was then lifted for a pinch-runner upon reaching third.
Last year, he missed significant time in the regular season due to a nagging calf problem, and he was also bugged by calf cramps during this year's spring training.
Donaldson has appeared in just 36 games for the Blue Jays this year and is hitting .234/.333/.423 with five home runs, 16 RBIs, and 11 doubles. His season has already been curtailed by injuries, including a shoulder issue that sent him to the DL for much of April.
Earlier Friday, the Blue Jays did get some good injury news, as the team activated outfielder Randal Grichuk and shortstop Aledmys Diaz from the DL.