Toronto Blue Jays Activate Kevin Kiermaier, Trevor Richards From Injured List

The Toronto Blue Jays have activated outfielder Kevin Kiermaier and right-handed pitcher Trevor Richards from the injured list, the team announced Friday afternoon.

To make room for the two returning veterans, the Blue Jays optioned outfielder Nathan Lukes and right-handed pitcher Jay Jackson to Triple-A Buffalo. Jackson was 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA, 0.818 WHIP and .156 batting average against in 18 major league appearances this season.

Richards was 1-1 with a 2.98 ERA, 1.160 WHIP and .201 batting average against in 39 appearances this year before he went on the 15-day injured list with neck inflammation on Aug. 2. The reliever made one rehab appearance with Triple-A Buffalo this week, tossing 1.0 scoreless inning while allowing one walk and notching one strikeout.

Prior to hitting the 10-day injured list with a right elbow laceration on Aug. 7, Kiermaier was batting .274 with five home runs, 27 RBI, 11 stolen bases, a .750 OPS and a 3.0 WAR in 2023.

ROSTER MOVES:

🔹 OF Kevin Kiermaier and RHP Trevor Richards have been reinstated from the IL and will be active for tonight’s game

🔹 OF Nathan Lukes and RHP Jay Jackson optioned to Triple-A pic.twitter.com/zuO48dsnIJ
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 18, 2023

Kiermaier is in his first year with the Blue Jays coming off of 10 seasons with the Tampa Bay Rays. He signed a one-year, $9 million contract with Toronto this past winter.

The 33-year-old has played in over 1,000 MLB games since making his big league debut in 2013, but constant injuries and surgeries have sidelined him for extended periods of time over the years. Despite hip, hand and thumb injuries hampering him, though, Kiermaier has still managed to become one of the top defensive players in baseball.

Kiermaier led MLB in defensive WAR in 2015 and 2016, and his career dWAR of 19.3 is the highest among active players. The 2015 Platinum Glove Award winner has 57 outfield assists in his career, compared to just 28 errors.

Richards, meanwhile, got his start as a starter with the Miami Marlins in 2018. He transitioned into the bullpen and bounced around between the Marlins, Rays and Milwaukee Brewers over the next three seasons before landing with the Blue Jays in 2021.

The 30-year-old righty has a 4.07 ERA and 1.246 WHIP in 159 career relief appearances.

The Blue Jays are finally on the mend after a recent run of injuries, also bringing All-Star closer Jordan Romano off the injured list Tuesday. All-Star shortstop Bo Bichette hasn't been activated yet, but he said he expects to be back in Toronto's lineup Saturday.

First pitch for the series opener between the Blue Jays and Cincinnati Reds is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET. Kiermaier and Richards will both be active.

The 67-55 Blue Jays and 63-59 Reds are both locked in tight playoff races as August winds down, with the former holding sole possession of the third AL Wild Card spot and the latter splitting the third NL Wild Card spot with the Marlins.

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