Blue Jays OF Bautista back on DL with wrist injury

BALTIMORE — Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Jose Bautista is back on the 15-day disabled list, saddled with the same injury that kept him sidelined for 5½ weeks before his short-lived return on Friday.

Bautista left Toronto's game against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night in the third inning with discomfort in his left wrist, and after the game the Blue Jays put him on the DL.

Bautista will see a hand specialist on Sunday, said Toronto manager John Farrell, who didn't hesitate yanking the slugger from the game after he complained about soreness in his wrist.

"Given what he means to us, not just in the current, but in the long term, as a precautionary measure we felt we needed to get him out of there," Farrell said.

With Toronto in last place and 14 games under .500, it makes little sense to take any risks to the two-time major league home run leader.

Bautista suspects the injury occurred in the first inning during his only at-bat of the game.

"Maybe it's one of those swings I took today," the slugger said. "One of those swings on my first at-bat I started feeling something. I think I did the proper thing telling them. Doctor says it's nothing to panic about."

Bautista thought it would take only a "couple days" for the injury to heal before being told he was being placed on the DL.

"I was not aware of that," he said. "I don't feel terrible and I don't feel 100 percent. The pain is nothing like what I felt the first time."

It's been a difficult season for the slugger, who was sidelined from July 17 until Friday with inflammation in his left wrist.

Toronto also put first baseman David Cooper (back strain) on the DL, activated Adam Lind (back) from the disabled list and recalled infielder Adeiny Hechavarria from Triple-A Las Vegas.