TORONTO – Vladimir Guerrero Jr., is expected to miss at least four weeks with a patellar tendon strain in his left knee, interrupting a monster campaign at double-A New Hampshire for the Toronto Blue Jays prospect and halting an expected promotion to triple-A Buffalo.
The injury was diagnosed over the weekend in Dunedin, Fla., where the 19-year-old third baseman underwent a series of tests.
Guerrero left a game last Saturday after landing on first base awkwardly, returned to play Tuesday but exited a 7-6 win over Akron on Wednesday after a slide into second base.
The Blue Jays said he’ll be treated conservatively before being re-evaluated in four weeks.
Guerrero is batting .407/.457/.667 with 11 homers and 20 walks against 21 strikeouts in 53 games with the Fisher Cats. A move up to Buffalo was believed to have been coming in the near future.
The patellar tendon attaches the bottom of the kneecap to the top of the shinbone.
Meanwhile, the Blue Jays also said Marcus Stroman (shoulder) will make a rehab start Wednesday, with a minor-league team to be determined, while outfielder Steve Pearce (oblique) is to start live batting practice with game action possible at the end of the week.
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