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May 17: RHP Yariel Rodríguez (thoracic spine inflammation) scheduled to make rehab start Tuesday
Rodríguez is still the ultimate moving piece. The Blue Jays will keep their options open and begin to stretch him out beginning Tuesday in Triple-A, but the role he returns to could depend on the coming weeks. With Alek Manoah back in the No. 5 spot in the rotation, Rodríguez may not be needed as a starter, and with Bowden Francis returning to the bullpen, a second long man would be unnecessary.

If all goes well and there are no further injuries, it's possible the Blue Jays shorten Rodríguez up to a more traditional relief role. This could change any day along the way, but Rodríguez's versatility should allow him to adapt well to any role the Blue Jays need.

May 17: RHP Bowden Francis (right forearm extensor tendinitis) will continue Triple-A rehab Saturday; RHP Chad Green (right teres major strain) on Sunday
Francis is making his second rehab appearance after throwing two scoreless innings on May 14 and could get up to three this time. The Blue Jays' priority is to get Francis back into a multi-inning role in their bullpen, which would fill such an important need.

Green, on the other hand, is making his first rehab start after hitting the IL one month ago. This means Green will likely need more than just one outing, but the veteran is close to returning and should immediately help the Blue Jays' back end alongside Yimi García and Jordan Romano.

May 17: 1B Joey Votto (right ankle) facing live pitching
Votto updates have been few and far between since he rolled his ankle in the dugout after a home run back on March 17, but manager John Schneider said Friday that Votto has started to hit live batting practice and run the bases at the team's complex in Dunedin, Fla. Votto wants to make sure his body is at 100% before entering game action, at which point he'd still need some time to build all the way up. Votto could still be an option for the Blue Jays later in the season, but it will be difficult to chart any sort of timeline until he's in games.

May 14: SS Arjun Nimmala (No. 3 prospect) placed on development list
You're seeing this used more and more lately. The development list first became a talking point in 2022, when the Blue Jays used it to bring Ricky Tiedemann to the complex mid-season. Essentially, this allows the Blue Jays to take Nimmala out of daily game action and focus on some specific things at their complex. He can spend a day in the hitting lab, face 10 different pitchers a day or work on swing mechanics without needing to perform in-game.

The 18-year-old Nimmala was batting just .167 with three home runs and 43 strikeouts over 29 games in Single-A Dunedin against more experienced competition. After a reset on the development list, he's expected to get another crack.

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10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST

RHP Bowden Francis (right forearm extensor tendinitis)
Expected return: Potentially late May
Francis threw two scoreless innings in a Triple-A rehab start on May 14, allowing just one hit with four strikeouts, and will make another start on Saturday. Expect Francis to throw around three innings for the Triple-A Bisons. If all goes well, Francis could return to the Blue Jays as early as the White Sox series which begins on May 20, where he would serve as the long man out of the bullpen. (Last updated: May 17)

RHP Chad Green (right teres major strain)
Expected return: Potentially late May
Green threw a bullpen session on May 13 and will now move into rehab games beginning in Triple-A on May 19. Green likely needs a couple of outings before returning, but it should be a simple path from this point and he will immediately help the back end of this bullpen. (Last updated: May 17)

RHP Yariel Rodríguez (thoracic spine inflammation)
Expected return: Late May to early June
Rodríguez will make his first rehab appearance in Triple-A on May 21 and likely needs one or two more following that. From there, this could go in a variety of directions. If the Blue Jays need another starter by the time Rodríguez is ready, then it's a simple decision to slide him back into the rotation. If there's no spot there, however, and Bowden Francis is back as the bullpen's long man, the Blue Jays are open to the idea of shortening Rodríguez up in a bullpen role. (Last updated: May 17)

LHP Ricky Tiedemann (left ulnar nerve inflammation; No. 1 prospect on Blue Jays top 30 list)
Expected return: Potentially June
The Blue Jays' No. 1 prospect dodged a more serious injury here, so while this is a sigh of relief in the short term, the Blue Jays hope their prized lefty can stay healthy for the remainder of the season and build some momentum, which has been difficult over the past two seasons.

Tiedemann, who is currently on the Minor League 7-day IL, is beginning to build up again. The Blue Jays will be cautious, but this time missed should naturally take care of any workload concerns in 2024. If Tiedemann is able to return within the next month, that still leaves half a season to work with as a starter. When he's at his best, Tiedemann still has the talent to kick the door down and help the Blue Jays in the big leagues. (Last updated: May 17)

60-DAY INJURED LIST

LHP Brandon Barriera (Tommy John surgery, No. 4 prospect on Blue Jays top 30 list)
Barriera's agent announced in late April that the 20-year-old lefty had undergone Tommy John surgery with an internal brace to repair a Grade 2 UCL tear and was placed on the Minor League season-ending injured list. The Blue Jays' No. 4 prospect will miss the rest of the 2024 season and likely part of the 2025 season, though that timeline should be clearer early next year.

This is another difficult setback for the Blue Jays' first-round pick from 2022. Barriera was shut down after the Draft that year, dealt with injuries in 2023 and is now done for '24, leaving him with just 21 2/3 pro innings under his belt. Barriera had impressed in camp and was touching 97 mph regularly, but for now, he'll focus on the rehab process and attempt to come back strong in his age-21 season. (Last updated: May 17)

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