Blue Jays activate slugger Bautista before San Diego series

TORONTO — On Monday, Jose Bautista was back where he left off more than five weeks ago with the Toronto Blue Jays: leading off, and in right field.

However, not everything has remained the same since he hurt his right big toe in Philadelphia on June 16.

For one, the Blue Jays went 17-13 during Bautista’s absence caused by turf toe, and are prominent players in the American League playoff picture. Secondly, Bautista is not quite at optimal health.

“There are always things to deal with. I can’t say that I’m 100 per cent,” Bautista said when asked to assess his status before Toronto started a three-game home series with San Diego. “It’s definitely something I can manage to play with. Percentages and stuff like that – I know you guys love to put numbers to that, but it’s impossible. I can play. I’m good to go.”

Bautista was activated from the disabled list before Monday’s game against the Padres, as Junior Lake was designated for assignment to make space for the slugger.

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In 65 games this year, Bautista is hitting .230 with 12 home runs and 41 runs batted in. In 19 games in 2016, Lake hit .206 with a home run and two runs batted in.

Bautista joins a lineup that is as healthy as it has been at any point this season. It is the first time Bautista, Devon Travis and Troy Tulowitzki have all been healthy at the same time since Tulowitzki’s trade from Colorado nearly a year ago. Russell Martin also returned from knee injury that caused him to miss the entirety of the three-game series against Seattle over the weekend.

That has many fans excited that this Blue Jays team could replicate last year’s sprint in the last third of the 2015 regular season, when they dominated in August and September to win the American League East. The Blue Jays entered Monday’s play at 55-44, three games behind division-leading Baltimore and holding on to the second wild card spot, a half game ahead of Houston.

“Nobody can tell the future, but we’re definitely capable of winning just as many games, if not more (than last year). I think we’re capable, in this season, of being a playoff team again,” Bautista said. “After that, it’s just how you play in the post-season.”

Bautista was asked whether it was important for the team to make a move before next Monday’s non-waiver trade deadline. Last year, the acquisitions of Tulowitzki, David Price, Ben Revere, LaTroy Hawkins and Mark Lowe helped set up the Blue Jays for their run.

“We have a great team,” Bautista said. “I don’t see the necessity to do anything.”

Bautista added that as he only had 15 at-bats during his rehab assignment last week, he expected to take a little time to adjust at the plate. Nevertheless, manager John Gibbons said he wants Bautista in the leadoff spot, never really considering another option such as Travis, who was not healthy before Bautista was injured in June.

Gibbons added that he would occasionally have Bautista serve as the designated hitter in order to give him some rest.

“It’s the smart thing to do,” Gibbons said.

“I don’t feel that it’s necessary, but he’s the manager,” Bautista said about Gibbons’ plan. I can’t tell him what to do. … As long as he asks me for feedback, I’ll let him know how I feel. I feel like I can play defence everyday just like at the beginning of the year.”

Eric Koreen, The Canadian Press