Player News

• Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Fails to make Opening Day roster

  03/21/2025 • By RotoWire

  The Blue Jays optioned Loperfido to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports. Loperfido was thought to be a frontrunner to either play center field if Daulton Varsho (shoulder) wasn't ready or left field if Varsho was on the active roster, but he ultimately didn't make the cut. The 25-year-old has slashed .207/.303/.414 with no home runs and a 9:4 K:BB over 14 games this spring.

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• Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Top option to fill in as CF

  03/17/2025 • By RotoWire

  Loperfido has received most of the playing time in center field this spring while Daulton Varsho (shoulder) has been limited to DH duties, and the former Astro is the favorite to be the Blue Jays' Opening Day center fielder, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports. Loperfido hasn't done much with his bat in Grapefruit League action, batting .160 (4-for-25) with a 3:7 BB:K and zero home runs, but three of his four hits have gone for extra bases. The 25-year-old struggled at the plate last season as well after being acquired from Houston, but Toronto still believes in his potential after he slashed .256/.352/.498 with 18 homers and 13 steals in 71 games for Triple-A Sugar Land prior to being part of the Yusei Kikuchi deal.

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• Blue Jays' Joey Loperfido: Could return to games by Friday

  02/26/2025 • By 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

  02/25/2025 • By 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: Gets start in center field Saturday

  02/23/2025 • By 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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