Blue Jays activate Pillar

The Toronto Blue Jays activated Kevin Pillar off the disabled list on Friday. Photo Credit: Amanda Fewer

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

After missing the last 14 games with to a Sternoclavicular Joint strain in his right shoulder, Kevin Pillar has been activated off the 10-day disabled list and will join the Toronto Blue Jays in Seattle on Friday.

In a corresponding move, right-handed reliever Brandon Cumpton was optioned down to triple-A Buffalo.

Through 93 games with the Blue Jays in 2018, Pillar has slashed .247/.279/.407 with 37 extra-base hits through 366 plate appearances. At the time of his injury on July 14, the former 32nd-round draft pick had appeared in more games than any other centre fielder in Major League Baseball this season.

Pillar's activation is likely to result in Randal Grichuk's return to right field, while veteran outfielder Curtis Granderson will go back to more of a platoon role off the bench for the 49-59 ball club.

Signed to a minor league deal on July 5, Cumpton got into just one game with the Blue Jays ahead of Friday's demotion. His relief of Luis Santos in the fifth inning of Tuesdays 6-2 loss to Oakland marked the journeyman reliever's first big league appearance since September 13, 2014.

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