Blue Jays Outfielder Suffers Scary Injury, Leaves Spring Training Game

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Joey Loperfido exited a Grapefruit League game against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday after crashing awkwardly into the left-center field wall in the top of the first inning.

Loperfido was trying to chase down a Victor Scott fly ball when he appeared to lose his balance on the TD Ballpark warning track and hit the wall with his head/neck area.

Jays manager John Schneider joined the team's athletic trainers on the field as they helped Loperfido off the field on his own power. The Blue Jays later announced Loperfido was removed with neck discomfort.

Steward Berroa took over in center field and Scott was credited with a triple.

Loperfido, 22, is battling for a reserve outfield spot along with Berroa and non-roster invitee Myles Straw.

The Blue Jays acquired Loperfido in the July 2024 that sent Will Wagner and Jake Bloss for pitcher Yusei Kikuchi. Straw, 30, became a Blue Jay on Jan. 17 when Toronto acquired him along with international bonus pool money amid their bid for free agent pitcher Roki Sasaki.

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Although Sasaki ultimately signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Straw could see his chances of making the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster increase if Loperfido misses extended time with the neck injury.

The scary play Tuesday momentarily overshadowed the 2025 spring training debut — and Blue Jays debut — of future Hall of Fame pitcher Max Scherzer.

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While Straw has primarily been a center fielder in his seven major league seasons (2018-24), and even won the American League Gold Glove Award at the position in 2022, Loperfido got the majority of his starts in left field as a rookie in 2024.

Besides the possibility of an extended absence, Loperfido's awkward misplay of Scott's fly ball on Tuesday could dissuade the Blue Jays from using him in center field in the future.

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The Blue Jays employed a glove-first center fielder last year, four-time Gold Glove Award winner Kevin Kiermaier, before trading him to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the 2024 trade deadline. Kiermaier retired at the end of last season.

Loperfido played 81 games last year for the Astros and Blue Jays. He slashed .214/.264/.350 with four home runs, 25 RBIs, and four stolen bases.

Straw spent the majority of last season at Triple-A Columbus, slashing .240/.321/.330 for the Guardians' top farm team.

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