Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion could return this weekend
By Brad Rowland
The information on the wrist injury of Blue Jays star Edwin Encarnacion has been anything but consistent, but on Thursday, a report emerged that painted his prospects in a positive light.
According to Greg Chisholm of MLB.com, Encarnacion could return this weekend from the wrist injury that has sidelined him since Saturday, September 7th. This is in direct contrast to some comments from Toronto manager John Gibbons on Wednesday, but whether Gibbons’ assertion that “E5” could be shut down was accurate or not, that verdict hasn’t been issued just yet.
It’s been another storybook season for Encarnacion (at least, individually) as he has a .276/.375/.542 slash line with 36 home runs in just 139 games. That is a blazing pace, but one that is not out of line with this “new” baseline for the 30-year-old corner infielder who hit 42 home runs in 2012.
However, the Blue Jays are far out of the race at this point with a 67-78 record, and there is virtually no incentive to push Encarnacion beyond his reasonable limits. This undoubtedly encouraging news for Toronto as they look to build around Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, and company going forward, but for this season, it is certainly too little, too late. It remains to be seen when he will take the field next, but if and when he does, we’ll have that news for you here.