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
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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
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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
Rotowire
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
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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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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Dropped from lineup Monday
Rotowire
Loperfido is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Mets.
Loperfido will hit the bench after he started the final two games of the Blue Jays' weekend series with Atlanta, going 3-for-7 with a double and a walk between those contests. Since joining the Blue Jays at the trade deadline, Loperfido has put together a .222/.260/.394 slash line with a 32.7 percent strikeout rate over 29 games. Loperfido's lack of productivity has prevented him from fully taking control of an everyday spot in the Toronto outfield.
Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Exiting lineup Wednesday
Rotowire
Loperfido is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Phillies.
Loperfido was on the bench for consecutive games over the weekend against the Twins, but he had started in both of the previous two contests while going 1-for-8 with four strikeouts. Since being acquired from the Astros in late July, Loperfido is slashing just .198/.232/.363 with a 34.7 percent strikeout rate, and his ongoing struggles appear to have started to cost him playing time. Davis Schneider will replace Loperfido in left field Wednesday.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Sitting again Saturday
Rotowire
Loperfido isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup Saturday against the Twins.
Loperfido will sit for the second game in a row Saturday as Nathan Lukes picks up another start in left field while batting eighth.
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Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Resting Friday
Rotowire
Loperfido isn't in the Blue Jays' lineup Friday against the Twins.
Per Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet.ca, Loperfido is getting the night off to rest after colliding with the wall during Thursday's game against Boston, but he also went 1-for-15 with five strikeouts during the series against the Red Sox. In his place, Nathan Lukes will make his first start of the year in left field and bat eighth.
Loperfido went 2-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 5-4 win over the Angels.
Loperfido led off the ninth inning with a game-tying blast of Roansy Contreras that was followed by a walk-off homer from fellow rookie Addison Barger. Loperfido may be heating up at the dish with multiple hits in four of his last five games, including two home runs over that span. The 25-year-old has a .732 OPS in 17 games with the Blue Jays and should continue to see regular at-bats down the stretch.
