Belt (illness) will serve as Toronto's designated hitter and cleanup batter in Monday's Grapefruit League game versus the Phillies.
Belt is back in the lineup after being scratched from the starting nine in both of the past two days due to a non-COVID-19-related illness that has been described as a stomach bug. Though the 34-year-old is likely to see limited action against left-handed pitching this season and may frequently sit out day games after night games, he's expected to be the Blue Jays' preferred cleanup hitter versus right-handed pitching when healthy.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Sits out Sunday after all
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The Blue Jays scratched Belt (illness) from the lineup ahead of Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.
Toronto's initial lineup listed Belt as its starting first baseman and No. 3 batter, but he'll ultimately take a seat for the second day in a row while he aims to recover from a stomach bug. Provided his symptoms continue to steadily improve in the next few days, Belt should be included on the Blue Jays' Opening Day roster. He's projected to serve as the Blue Jays' primary designated hitter and cleanup batter versus right-handed pitching to begin the season.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Back in action Sunday
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Belt (illness) will start at first base and bat third in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
A stomach bug kept Belt from playing in Saturday's game against the Tigers, but he's apparently feeling fine one day later. Though he'll be picking up a start at first base Sunday, Belt is expected to serve as Toronto's primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching once the regular season gets underway.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Battling stomach bug
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Belt is dealing with a stomach illness and won't play Saturday's game against the Tigers, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
Health concerns are a significant worry for Belt this year, but a minor illness is something the Blue Jays can definitely live with. The veteran appears set to be the primary designated hitter and cleanup man against righties this season for as long as he can stay on the field.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Looks like cleanup hitter
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Belt went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies.
The veteran first baseman filled his usual DH spot and hit fourth behind George Springer, Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero. Belt has hit cleanup consistently during his spring appearances, going 5-for-18 (.278) with three doubles, and while he hasn't hit any home runs or even driven in any runs, that spot in a loaded Blue Jays batting order could provide a significant boost to the 34-year-old's fantasy value if he can keep it. The biggest obstacle to a strong campaign is his ability to stay healthy -- Belt has played more than 112 games only once in the last six seasons.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Ready for spring debut
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Belt (knee) will serve as the designated hitter and bat third in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Orioles.
The veteran will don a Blue Jays uniform for the first time after 12 years with the Giants. Belt, who underwent right knee surgery last September, has been brought along slowly in camp thus far. If healthy, Belt should serve as the primary DH against right-handed pitching, ceding occasional starts to Alejandro Kirk and Danny Jansen among others.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Takes live batting practice
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Belt (knee) took live batting practice Friday in Blue Jays camp, Rob Longley of the Toronto Sun reports.
Belt has yet to appear in a Grapefruit League game this spring as he completes his recovery from September knee surgery, but the restraints could come off as soon as this weekend. The 34-year-old joined the Jays on a one-year, $9.3 million contract in January and is expected to be a regular option at DH while occasionally spelling Vladimir Guerrero at first base.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: A week away from game action
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Manager John Schneider said Thursday that Belt (knee) is about a week away from making his Grapefruit League debut, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.
Belt is considered fully recovered from last September's knee surgery but is still being eased into things this spring. The Blue Jays don't believe he needs many Grapefruit League at-bats to prepare for the season, so he remains on track for Opening Day.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Being eased into camp
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Belt has yet to participate in a full workout with the rest of the Blue Jays as he gets eased into spring training, Kaitlyn McGrath of The Athletic reports.
The veteran first baseman is fully healthy after undergoing knee surgery in September, but the organization isn't in a rush to get him up to speed. Instead, Belt has been hitting in the batting cage and doing some running and fielding work on his own through the early part of camp. "My goal is to be ready for day one of the regular season and not day one of games in spring training," Belt said Friday. "We thought that the best thing to do was just to get here, make sure I'm ready to get in games. Once I get in games, I don't need that long to get ready. Maybe just a couple of weeks." The 34-year-old is expected to be Toronto's primary DH this season while occasionally spelling Vladimir Guerrero at first base, and if he can stay mostly healthy, Belt could rebound in a big way from last season's career-low .676 OPS.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Deems self healthy, expects to DH
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Belt noted Wednesday that he feels back to full health after undergoing surgery in September on his right knee, and he anticipates seeing most of his starts with the Blue Jays as a designated hitter during the upcoming season, Scott Mitchell of TSN.ca reports.
Belt, who signed a one-year, $9.3 million deal with Toronto earlier this week, admitted that his exact role isn't solidified just yet, but he suggested that he expects to play DH in most games while occasionally spelling Vladimir Guerrero at first base. The arrangement should help Belt from a durability standpoint, given that chronic knee issues along with an assortment of other injuries have cost him extensive time throughout his career. When he was available for the Giants last season, Belt posted a career-worst 96 wRC+ in 298 plate appearances, but the Blue Jays are hoping that improved health coming off surgery along with a superior collection of bats around him can help the 34-year-old bounce back.
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Blue Jays' Brandon Belt: Headed to Toronto
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Belt (knee) agreed to a one-year, $9.3 million contract with the Blue Jays on Monday, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Belt had conversations about returning to San Francisco during the offseason, but he'll ultimately end up wearing a new uniform in 2023. Slusser notes that Belt has completed his physical, and he's also returned to health following a September knee surgery. Belt figures to slot in at the DH spot when Alejandro Kirk is behind the dish or at first base when Vladimir Guerrero needs a day off.
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Giants' Brandon Belt: Responding well to surgery
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Belt said Wednesday that his right knee is feeling great after he underwent surgery earlier this month, and he's optimistic about his ability to continue playing in 2023, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports. "I know I have a lot left in me and that's what I want to show everybody," Belt said.
Due to the chronic problems Belt has had with the knee in recent years, there had been some thought that retirement could be in the cards for the 34-year-old, but his positive response to surgery has seemingly left him prepared to continue his career. Belt still has several hurdles to clear in his recovery from surgery, but the expectation is that he'll have a relatively normal offseason following a two-month rehab process. Belt, who hit .213 with eight home runs and 23 RBI in 78 games before being shut down for good in late August, will be a free agent this offseason and is unlikely to command more than a one-year deal on the open market, given his age and injury history.
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Giants' Brandon Belt: Heads to 60-day IL
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The Giants transferred Belt (knee) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday, Maria I. Guardado of MLB.com reports.
The transaction comes after Belt underwent season-ending surgery Saturday to address chronic inflammation in his right knee. With the surgery going according to plan, Belt is expected to spend the next two months rehabbing before potentially resuming baseball activities prior to end of 2022. With Belt's move to the 60-day IL, the Giants were able to free up a spot on the 40-man roster for infielder/outfielder Jose Rojas, whom the team claimed off waivers from the Angels.
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Giants' Brandon Belt: Surgery goes well
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Belt's knee surgery went as planned Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
Belt has dealt with chronic knee issues throughout the year and eventually elected to undergo season-ending surgery. The procedure went well, and he's expected to rehab for approximately two months, giving him time to be ready for next season. He'll be a free agent this winter, and the market for a 34-year-old coming off a down season and a significant surgery may not be robust. He's now missed at least 50 games in four of the last five full seasons, so any team taking a chance on him can't count on having him available all year.
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Giants' Brandon Belt: Out for season
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Belt will undergo season-ending knee surgery Saturday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
After receiving a second opinion on his right knee, Belt decided to undergo yet another knee procedure, ending his season. In 2022, Belt slashed .213/.326/.350 -- by far the worst numbers of his career -- and played in just 78 games. The 34-year-old veteran said he would like to continue playing, though at the end of the day it depends on how his knee recovers.
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Giants' Brandon Belt: Surgery recommended
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Belt received a second opinion on his right knee Tuesday and was recommended surgery, and he'll take the next 24 hours to weigh his options before deciding whether to undergo the procedure, Evan Webeck of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
The 34-year-old is battling chronic inflammation in his right knee and underwent an MRI on Friday, which didn't reveal any additional damage, but he was still recommended to undergo surgery when further evaluated. Belt has already had the knee drained three times this season, and a procedure would likely end his 2022 campaign. The veteran first baseman has been limited to 78 games this year due to injuries and has a career-worst .676 OPS.
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Giants' Brandon Belt: Getting second opinion
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Belt will get a second opinion on his injured knee Tuesday, John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
An MRI taken Friday on Belt's injured knee came back negative, but he apparently needs another look. The team figures to release another update on his status after the results of his latest exam are read.
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Giants' Brandon Belt: MRI comes back negative
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Belt (knee) underwent an MRI on Friday that didn't reveal any additional damage, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Belt has dealt with chronic knee issues this year and was ultimately placed on the injured list with right knee inflammation Wednesday. While he isn't dealing with any structural damage, the Giants plan to give the 34-year-old as much time as he needs to recover in order to prevent a more significant injury.
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Giants' Brandon Belt: MRI coming Friday
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Belt will undergo an MRI on his inflamed right knee Friday, Alex Pavlovic of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
According to Danny Emerman of KNBR.com, Belt's right knee injury has been described as a chronic concern that could threaten the longevity of his career. Belt has required multiple surgeries on the knee during his 12-year career and has already had the knee drained three times this season alone. For the time being, the Giants are hoping the MRI will reveal nothing concerning, keeping the door open for Belt to play again in 2022 if his knee responds well to rest. While Belt is out of action, Wilmer Flores will likely serve as the Giants' primary option at first base.
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Giants' Brandon Belt: Placed on injured list
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Belt was placed on the 10-day injured list with right knee inflammation Wednesday.
Belt has been bothered by his knee issue for most of the year, and he was scratched from Tuesday's lineup against the Tigers after the injury flared up. He was slated to miss a second consecutive game Wednesday and will ultimately be held out for at least a week and a half after being diagnosed with inflammation. J.D. Davis and Wilmer Flores should see additional playing time at first base in Belt's absence, while Bryce Johnson was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento on Wednesday.
