Spring training injuries are almost inevitable.
As MLB players start to ramp up their progress and baseball-related activities, a lot of muscle injuries appear.
Others are more of a fluke, unpredictable as the game itself, and can happen at any point of the season, in any game.
The Toronto Blue Jays just had to remove their best player, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., from a spring game in the second inning with right knee discomfort.
UPDATE: INF Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was removed from today’s game with right knee discomfort.
—Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) March 3, 2023
Several media members reported that the 2021 AL MVP runner-up took a couple of awkward steps and the knee started to bother him.
He had no issues walking and it’s probably nothing to be too concerned about, but the Blue Jays sure weren’t about to take any chances with their prized slugger.
His availability for Opening Day appears to be in no danger.
However, his presence with the Dominican Republic in the upcoming 2023 World Baseball Classic could be another story.
MLB teams have still shown some reluctance to let their true stars represent their teams, and if Guerrero reports even a little discomfort, Toronto could opt not to let him go to the WBC.
We should know more about Guerrero in the next couple of days, but the Dominican manager and coaches should be preparing themselves for any scenario regarding the slugger.
Guerrero hit .274 with 32 home runs last season, just one year after hitting 48 long balls.
The most likely scenario has him missing a game or two, making sure his knee is okay, and then returning to the lineup.
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