Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen will miss the start of the regular season due to a fracture on his right wrist. He was injured after getting hit by a pitch from the Pittsburgh Pirates’ Carmen Mlodzinski during the seventh inning of their Spring Training game. He checked out after his at-bat and was replaced by a pinch runner.
The team estimates that he could return by early April, even if fractures take up to six weeks to heal. However, he will undergo another examination on Friday to chart his recovery timeline accurately.
Danny Jansen is expected to miss two weeks due to a fractured bone near his right wrist, John Schneider announced. pic.twitter.com/yjPQmesQrz
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) March 15, 2024
Last season, Jansen was the most hit-by-pitches among Blue Jays players, with ten. This is a high rate because he played only 86 games. Because he tends to lean closer to home plate when he tries to hit the ball, he suffered a season-ending finger fracture in early September last year.
This recent setback is Jansen’s third injury in the wrist/hand area since June 2022. But he is a reliable catcher and power hitter when healthy, with 32 home runs in 158 games.
With Danny Jansen missing some time, Alejandro Kirk will likely take his place. The Mexican catcher played 99 games last season and became one of Major League Baseball’s best in terms of Defensive Runs Saved.
To complete their catcher rotation, the Blue Jays must decide between Payton Henry and Brian Serven. Toronto must clear a roster spot on its 40-man rotation to make way for one of them.
-Lance Fernandez