Michael Saunders Injury: Updates on Blue Jays Star's Knee and Return

After starting the season on the disabled list, Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Michael Saunders is in the lineup Saturday for his season debut.

Continue for updates.

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Saunders to Make Season Debut

Saturday, April 25

MLBLineups confirmed that Saunders will make his season debut against the Tampa Bay Rays:

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4/25 @BlueJays lineup vs TB Reyes SS Travis 2B Donaldson 3B Encarnacion DH Smoak 1B Martin C Saunders RF Pillar CF Pompey LF Norris P

— MLBLineups (@mlblineups) April 25, 2015"

The Blue Jays announced on Friday that they activated Saunders from the disabled list while designating Steve Tolleson for assignment. Brendan Kennedy of the Toronto Star reported that Saunders would make his season debut Saturday.

Earlier this week, Blue Jays manager John Gibbons told reporters that Saunders "could" return to the team Friday when Toronto faces off against the Rays, according to Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com

Saunders was originally slated for an early- to mid-April return after fears that he could be out until around the All-Star break, according to Ken Fidlin of the Toronto Sun.

The Associated Press (via ESPN.com) reported more details on how the injury originally occurred in late February:

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Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Michael Saunders stepped on a sprinkler while shagging fly balls Wednesday, tearing cartilage in his left knee and sidelining him until the All-Star break.

Saunders said he felt a pop after stepping on a sprinkler head while going for a ball at the team's training facility.

"I just tried to walk off the field and not draw any attention to myself, then when I got into the training room, my knee felt like it was getting tight on the inside," Saunders said. "I've never had any issues with my knees, so that's when I knew that something was wrong."

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He's no stranger to injury woes, having played 100 or fewer games in four of his six major league seasons.