Blue Jays activate Hernandez, designate Roark, send Davis to alternate site

The Toronto Blue Jays have activated Teoscar Hernandez from the injured list. Hernandez had been sidelined after testing positive for COVID-19. Photo: Toronto Blue Jays/Twitter

April 30, 2021

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

The Toronto Blue Jays have activated OF Teoscar Hernandez off the injured list ahead of their three-game set against the Atlanta Braves.

Hernandez has been sidelined since April 13 after testing positive for COVID-19.

In a pair of corresponding roster moves, OF Jonathan Davis has been optioned to the club's alternate training site, while RHP Tanner Roark has been designated for assignment.

Hernandez had six hits with a home run and two RBI through seven games prior to landing on the shelf. In 50 games last year, the right-handed hitting product of Cotui, D.R. slashed .289/.340/.570 en route to earning his first career Silver Slugger award. His 16 home runs matched Nelson Cruz for the fifth-most in the American League, while his OPS of .919 was the seventh-highest in the circuit.

Davis has collected just two hits in 22 at-bats with the Blue Jays in 2021, one of which left the yard. Through 182 plate appearances dating back to his debut in 2018, the Arkansas native has slashed .185/.278/.287 with eight stolen bases in ten attempts.

Though he could conceivably clear waivers and accept a minor league assignment, Roark has likely thrown his last pitch for the Blue Jays. In 14 games with the club dating back to last July, the 34-year-old allowed 41 earned runs across 54 2/3 innings. Overall, he posted a cumulative WHIP of 1.613 with 17 of the 67 base hits he surrendered being home runs.

Blue Jays fans will get their first look at Toronto's revamped lineup on Friday, with George Springer leading off and Henandez providing protection for Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (Montreal, Que.) in the cleanup spot.

After the Jays 13-5 win over the Braves they reinstated RHP T.J. Zeuch from the 10-day injured list (right shoulder tendinitis) and optioned him to the club’s alternate training site. Zeuch will travel to Trenton, NJ, to join the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons.

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