Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is nearing a return from concussion protocol and will make a rehab start with Class A Dunedin, the Toronto Blue Jays announced Thursday.
He is in the lineup as the designated hitter for the Thursday game at Clearwater, batting third.
The Blue Jays placed Guerrero on the seven-day injured list last Saturday with a head injury.
The six-time All-Star exited Toronto’s 3-1 win over the New York Yankees in the sixth inning on Friday after taking an inadvertent knee to the head from shortstop George Lombard Jr. while sliding into third base.
Guerrero, 27, is batting .263 with seven homers and 46 RBIs in 115 games this season.
His return will be welcomed by manager John Schneider and the Blue Jays. Toronto (62-66) is in the mix for the third American League wild-card berth, entering Thursday one game back of the Minnesota Twins (63-65), who currently occupy that spot.
Toronto concludes a three-game road series with the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday and will begin a three-game series at Yankee Stadium on Friday.
