Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is nearing a return now that he's passed his final concussion tests, manager John Schneider said Friday.
"He felt good. These last couple of days, even before he left to play in Clearwater (on a rehab assignment), he was feeling good," Schneider said, according to Keegan Matheson of MLB.com. "He's feeling normal, so that's a good thing."
Guerrero will take swings in the batting cage Friday at Yankee Stadium, according to Sportsnet's Hazel Mae. Barring something unforeseen, he's expected to come off the injured list and play in Saturday's game against the New York Yankees.
Toronto placed Guerrero on the seven-day concussion IL after he took a knee to the head from Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. while running the bases last Friday in Toronto. He left that game shortly afterward and then experienced a headache, prompting the team to make the roster move.
The 27-year-old made a rehab appearance with Single-A Dunedin on Thursday, hitting an RBI double and walking twice in three plate appearances.
It's been a difficult season for Guerrero, who's hitting a career-worst .263/.337/.356 with seven homers and 46 RBIs over 115 games. The two-time Silver Slugger winner put up a .610 OPS in August before sustaining his injury.
Kazuma Okamoto, the Blue Jays' everyday third baseman, and rookie Charles McAdoo have filled in at first base over the last week. Toronto's also received unexpected contributions from outfielder Daz Cameron, whom it called up after Guerrero's injury. He's gone 4-for-11 with a homer and two RBIs.
Since falling 10 games below .500 on July 28, the Blue Jays have won 14 of 21 games to climb back into the AL playoff race. The reigning American League champions entered Friday just a half-game behind the Minnesota Twins for the last wild-card spot.
Prior to Friday's game, Toronto reinstated right-hander Spencer Arrighett, whom it acquired from the Houston Astros in a deadline-day trade, from the IL while recalling outfielder Davis Schneider from Triple-A Buffalo. The Blue Jays also placed utility player Josh Smith on the 10-day IL with hamstring inflammation.
