JOSH DONALDSON BACK IN THE GAME.
Jays’ slugger makes spring training debut
DUNEDIN, FLA .• In his two full seasons managing the thoroughbred that is Josh Donaldson, Toronto Blue Jays manager John Gibbons has known better than to try hard to keep his baseball stud in the barn.
On Monday at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium, the reins were finally released on the team’s star third basemen, as welcome here as the first day of spring was up north.
With opening day of the 2017 season just two weeks away and the strained calf in his right leg nearing full strength, Donaldson made his Grapefruit League debut at designated hitter.
By the score line, anyway, it was a modest debut for the 2015 American League MVP, but that hardly mattered. The Bringer of Rain had been crushing the ball in the batting cage for much of spring training and it’s doubtful he’ ll need much work to get in game form.
The good news was that he had a chance to run the bases and felt good in his three plate appearances — a walk, a strikeout and a reach by way of an error. With that behind him, Donaldson is hungry for more and is tentatively scheduled to make his spring debut at third in Wednesday’s home game against the Tigers.
Prominent among the ultra competitors on the Jays roster, Donaldson admitted it was tough to keep the bit in his mouth through what has felt like an endless spring.
“It wasn’t that easy for me to be patient because I want to be out there,” Donaldson said after exiting the Jays’ ugly 8- 2 loss to the Twins in the sixth inning. “The good thing is that it’s been somewhat of a longer spring training and it allowed me to take my time. Our training staff and everybody here just re- iterated to take this as slow as possible and take all the right precautionary steps.”
Other than the nagging calf — which Donaldson says feels normal now — he came to training camp in spectacular shape. He’s been drawing rave reviews at batting practice almost daily and looks to be in peak condition.
“We’ve been right on the edge for two years in a row now and we want to get to the next step,” Donaldson said, when asked about the hunger that has fuelled him in the off- season. “We feel we have the team to do that. We’re going to do everything in our power and prepare for us to be at that stage.”
While Monday’s debut was modest — Donaldson only took one swing at the first 10 pitches he faced in a strikeout and walk — there’s no doubt it was a welcome sight to manager John Gibbons and the rest of the team.
“It’s a really big day for him and a big day for the ball club,” Gibbons said. “We’ve been waiting for this day.”
Donaldson’s durability is well- known ( and regarded) around the Toronto clubhouse. In his two seasons as a Jay, he has played 158 and 155 games respectively.
“It is kind of rare in this day and age,” Gibbons said. “I think a lot of it is his toughness, his mentality. That’s kind of who he is. He’s one of those guys who has a big sense of obligation to his team. He knows they pay a lot of money for him to be out on the field.
“He’s at the point in his ca- reer that he knows it’s huge for this team when he’s on the field, so he has to make sure he’s good and ready.”
The Jays want to maximize that investment and with a enhanced emphasis on sports science and proper rehab, there’s no way he was going to be rushed back.
Donaldson takes pride in his ability to play through nagging injuries, but more significantly to be a contributor throughout the season.
“Consistency is the name of the game,” Donaldson said. “A lot of guys can go out there and do it for one or two games or maybe a month. What a lot of guys in this clubhouse take pride in is to be able to do it over the course of the year. That’s why we’ve been successful.”
The return of Donaldson was just one of the positive steps for the Jays Monday as the roster continues to round into shape. Second baseman Devon Travis played four innings at the position in a minor-league game and plans to do so again Wednesday. If everything holds up with his injured knee, he hopes to appear in a majorleague game Friday.
Then there’s right- fielder Jose Bautista, who should be back with the team Tuesday after the Dominican Republic was eliminated at the World Baseball Classic.
“And then you’re looking at our team,” Gibbons said.