Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Hits first career homer in loss
Rotowire
Lukes went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Saturday's 8-1 loss to the Marlins.
Lukes hit his first career home run in the first inning, but it would be the only offense the Blue Jays could muster. The 30-year-old has impressed in just 91 plate appearances this season, hitting .303 with 10 RBI, 13 runs scored and a stolen base.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Out of Friday's lineup
Rotowire
Luke is not in the lineup for Friday's game against the Rays.
Lukes started six of the previous seven games and will take seat Friday after posting a .231/.276/.385 slash line during that span. Jonatan Clase is starting in center field against Tampa Bay lefty Tyler Alexander.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Seeing steady playing time
Rotowire
Lukes will start in right field and bat leadoff in Thursday's game against the Rangers.
The lefty-hitting Lukes was on the bench Wednesday against Rangers southpaw Cody Bradford, but he's otherwise picked up starts in six of the last seven games. Lukes benefited from Joey Loperfido missing two contests with an adductor injury, but the Blue Jays could have regular roles available for both players down the stretch with Daulton Varsho (shoulder) having been shut down for the season. Since his call-up from Triple-A Buffalo on Aug. 30, Lukes has slashed .356/.423/.511 with no home runs, one stolen base, eight runs and six RBI over 52 plate appearances.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Starting again Sunday
Rotowire
Lukes is starting in center field and batting in the leadoff spot for Sunday's series finale against the Cardinals.
Lukes will start in the outfield for a fourth straight game Sunday, and the 30-year-old has been seeing more playing time while Daulton Varsho has been sidelined due to a sore shoulder. He's gone 3-for-10 with one triple and three runs scored over the first two games of the series against St. Louis. In 10 major-league appearances this season, Lukes is slashing .342/.395/.474 with four RBI across 43 plate appearances.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: On base three times Sunday
Rotowire
Lukes went 0-for-2 with three walks and a run scored in Sunday's loss to the Twins.
After batting eighth in his first two games of the season following his promotion Friday, Lukes got bumped up to the leadoff spot and showed a keen eye. The 30-year-old appears to be receiving a real look from the Jays and has responded by getting on base eight times in his first 14 plate appearances while seeing action in both outfield corners, but given his age, the rebuilding team may not have a lot of incentive to play Lukes over younger options like Joey Loperfido or Addison Barger down the stretch.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Tallies four hits Saturday
Rotowire
Lukes went 4-for-6 with a double, two runs and two RBI in a 15-0 rout of the Twins on Saturday.
Lukes was one of four Blue Jays with at least three hits in the offensive outburst, and he was part of a massive 11-for-16, seven-RBI performance by the bottom third of Toronto's order. This was just the second major-league game of the season for the 30-year-old, who was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday. Lukes earned the promotion by slashing .333/.403/.469 with seven home runs, 31 RBI and four steals over 54 games with Buffalo.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Up from Buffalo
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Lukes from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.
Lukes has gone 12-for-36 with a homer and four RBI in 10 games at Triple-A since returning from a thumb injury that kept him sidelined for roughly two months. He'll now join the big-league squad to provide the Jays with some outfield depth, taking the place of Steward Berroa, who was optioned to Buffalo in a corresponding move.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Returns from 60-day IL
Rotowire
Lukes (thumb) has gone 3-for-8 with a home run and a walk in two games for Triple-A Buffalo since being reinstated from the 60-day injured list Friday.
Lukes underwent a procedure in mid-June to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb, and he's since been cleared to return to action for Buffalo after completing a rehab assignment at Single-A Dunedin. The 30-year-old is slashing .335/.408/.492 with seven home runs and four stolen bases over 201 plate appearances for the Triple-A club this season.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Gets surgery on left thumb
Rotowire
Lukes underwent surgery Wednesday to repair a torn UCL in his left thumb, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The Blue Jays haven't yet established a return timeline for Lukes, who is a member of the 40-man roster. He was up with the big club for one day in early May but has otherwise spent the entire season at Triple-A Buffalo. Lukes had slashed .333/.406/.480 with six home runs and four stolen bases in 192 plate appearances for Buffalo prior to being placed on the 7-day injured list.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: On IL with thumb injury
Rotowire
Lukes was placed on the 7-day injured list at Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday with a thumb injury, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.
The severity of the injury is unclear, but Lukes will be sidelined for at least the next week after he suffered the injury this weekend. The 28-year-old has a .333/.406/.480 slash line through 44 games for Buffalo this season.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Sent back to Buffalo
Rotowire
The Blue Jays optioned Lukes to Triple-A Buffalo on Saturday.
Lukes was recalled from Triple-A on Friday, but the return of Kevin Kiermaier (hip) from the injured list will force Lukes back to Buffalo before he could appear in a game with Toronto. The 29-year-old outfielder is slashing .284/.348/.432 in the minors this season and could return to the Blue Jays if their outfield depth is tested again later in the year.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Joins big club
Rotowire
The Blue Jays recalled Lukes from Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.
The 29-year-old missed out on Toronto's Opening Day roster but will join the big-league club a month into the season. Lukes had a .284/.348/.432 slash line through 20 games for Buffalo this season and will provide outfield depth with Kevin Kiermaier (hip) on the injured list.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Misses out on Opening Day roster
Rotowire
Lukes was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Sunday.
The 29-year-old outfielder was hoping to win a spot on the Blue Jays' bench in camp, but despite batting .450 (18-for-40) this spring with four doubles, a triple, two steals and a 5:5 BB:K, Lukes will begin the season back in Triple-A. He has little left to prove in the minors after slashing .311/.381/.459 for Buffalo in 159 games over the last two years, but Lukes will likely have to wait for an injury to create a big-league opportunity for him.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Two hits, one run
Rotowire
Lukes went 2-for-4 with a run during Toronto's 9-2 Grapefruit League win over Tampa Bay on Monday.
It's a small sample, but through 24 spring training at-bats, Lukes is hitting .500. The 29-year-old's ability to play multiple outfield spots could land him a spot on the Opening Day roster, but it's hard to project much fantasy value in that expected role.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Back in minors
Rotowire
The Blue Jays optioned Lukes to Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.
With Matt Chapman (finger) returning from the injured list, Lukes will be pushed off the major-league roster. Lukes boasts an impressive .970 OPS through 203 plate appearances in Triple-A, but he has yet to find the same success in the majors and would likely only return to the big leagues as bench depth.
Lukes was recalled from Triple-A Buffalo prior to Tuesday's game against the Rangers.
Lukes is not in Tuesday's lineup against righty Max Scherzer. Spencer Horwitz figures to benefit from Brandon Belt (back spasms) landing on the injured list while Lukes should offer outfield depth in the short term.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Sent back to Buffalo
Rotowire
Toronto optioned Lukes to Triple-A Buffalo on Friday.
Lukes gave the Blue Jays some extra outfield depth while Kevin Kiermaier (elbow) spent 10 days on the injured list. Kiermaier has been activated in a corresponding roster move ahead of Friday's series opener in Cincinnati.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Recalled from Buffalo
Rotowire
Toronto recalled Lukes from Triple-A Buffalo on Tuesday.
Lukes has gone 4-for-21 (.190) this season at the major-league level, but he's been excellent at Triple-A and the Blue Jays need outfield depth after placing Kevin Kiermaer on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow laceration.
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Blue Jays' Nathan Lukes: Sent to Triple-A
Rotowire
Lukes was optioned to Triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Lukes has spent more time in the majors than minors this season but has hardly played while up with the big club. Jordan Luplow is absorbing his spot on the roster.
