Jays clear up Hechavarria's travel status - Sportsnet.ca

TORONTO--So apparently Adeiny Hechavarria is cleared to travel to Canada after all.

That is of course, when and if the Toronto Blue Jays invite him up here.

On Tuesday, Blue Jays manager John Farrell said the 23-year-old Cuban shortstop missed two games with the triple-A Las Vegas 51s in order to deal with “citizen-type situations.”

When asked Wednesday if he knew whether Hechavarria had been cleared to travel outside of the United States, Farrell replied:

“I wish I had more for you on the specific details to that,” he said. “I just know that he was going to be two days away to take care of the process at hand.”

Later in the day however, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos told a pair of reporters, including John Lott of the National Post, that Hechavarria has indeed been cleared to travel to Canada, and has been able to do so since the end of spring training.

With shortstop Yunel Escobar (groin) and second baseman Kelly Johnson (hamstring) nursing injuries of late, there had been some speculation that Hechavarria was in the mix for a promotion earlier this week when infielder Mike McCoy was recalled from Las Vegas.

Farrell confirmed Hechavarria had been in that discussion, but, he added: “With the two days missed, in all fairness to the player, if you’re thinking about a potential call up, you want them to at least have some recent activity.”

In 49 games this season with the 51s, Hechavarria is batting .316/.368/.455/.825 with four home runs, 34 RBIs, 18 walks and 43 strikeouts.

On Wednesday against the Orioles, Escobar started at short while Kelly Johnson was given the night off with Omar Vizquel starting in his place at second base. Farrell said Escobar is close to 100 per cent while Johnson is expected to return to action Friday at home against the Boston Red Sox following an off-day Thursday.

Going back to the spring, Farrell stressed the team would be reluctant to promote Hechavarria -- who has played 43 games at short and seven at second for Las Vegas this season -- unless there is a long-term need at either position.

“He’s a guy that we would not want to bring up and not get regular at-bats,” Farrell said Wednesday.