Blue Jays’ George Springer Replacement Offers 5-Word Response On Health Setback

The Toronto Blue Jays have the chance to build some momentum as they take on the Cleveland Guardians for a three-game series beginning on Friday.

The team has opened the season with a losing record thanks to some early turbulence, which included injuries to several key players. And with one of those key players, outfielder and leadoff hitter George Springer, sidelined with a toe injury, the Blue Jays have turned to veteran Nathan Lukes in the leadoff spot.

Lukes was a key sparkplug during the team’s World Series run last year, and he logged 17 hits in 17 postseason games. But even after being slotted into the leadoff spot in Springer’s absence, Lukes has struggled with a .235/.273/.294 slash line so far this season.

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Toronto Blue Jays’ Leadoff Hitter Nathan Lukes Visits Vertigo Specialist

He attributed his issues at the plate to some vertigo symptoms he was experiencing and visited a specialist while the time was on the road to play the Arizona Diamondbacks last week.

“Lukes visited with a Phoenix-area vertigo specialist Friday morning and doubled down on some head-movement exercises that can help alleviate the symptoms, which include dizziness, unsteadiness and nausea,” Shi Davidi reported for Sportsnet.

Since then, the results have been better for Lukes as he looks to fill in for Springer.

“Lukes looks and feels like a completely refreshed hitter,” Mitch Bannon noted for The Athletic. “The lefty has eight hard-hit base hits this season. Seven of those have come in the last six games since he began vertigo treatment. Lukes says it probably wasn’t the smartest decision to play through the ailment, and his 0-for-23 to start April seems to back that up.”

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Toronto Blue Jays Veteran Nathan Lukes Details Heath Setback: ‘I Know It’s Not Done’

The Blue Jays have good reason to hope that Lukes’ post-treatment results will be closer to the version they see as Springer continues to recover. But even though their leadoff replacement appears to be better off after addressing his vertigo symptoms, Lukes made it clear that he will be dealing with the health setback for the foreseeable future.

“I know it’s not done,” Lukes said of his vertigo problem, per Bannon. “It’s still kind of there. But the exercises that they gave me and the medications, I just got to stick on it. Hopefully we’re over that hump.”

With the Blue Jays looking to return to the World Series with better results this year, the team will be counting on virtually all of its hitters to provide the same kind of production that made their lineup so fearsome last season. And for Lukes, that could mean battling through his vertigo health setback for the rest of the campaign, but particularly while Springer remains out of action.