Guerrero Jr. has resumed baseball activities

TORONTO -- Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has resumed baseball activities, and has started to make appearances in extended spring training games at Toronto's Minor League complex in Dunedin, Fla.

Guerrero, baseball's No. 1 prospect according to MLB Pipeline, has been out since March 8 because of a strained oblique. He injured himself while taking a swing during an exhibition game against the Pirates, and had been held out of games ever since.

The plan is for Guerrero to eventually report to Triple-A Buffalo, but the club doesn't intend to do that for at least a little while longer. Toronto is conscious of the cold conditions in Buffalo, and the club wants to make sure Guerrero doesn't rush anything and risk getting hurt in the process.

"If he goes [to Buffalo] and he's hot and swinging the bat good, there's no reason for him not to come here," Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said. "But I know for sure, he needs some at-bats. He lost Spring Training; he lost a lot of time. So that's why I told him [Sunday], don't rush it, take your time, make sure you feel good at the plate and we'll go from there."

Getting healthy
Reinforcements are on the way for the Blue Jays' pitching staff with Clay Buchholz, Ryan Tepera and Ryan Borucki all candidates to join the 25-man roster at some point this month.

Tepera (right elbow inflammation) and Borucki (left elbow soreness) are scheduled for bullpen sessions on Wednesday. Montoyo said Tepera might return by mid-April, while Borucki should be activated closer to the end of the month, barring any setbacks.

The Blue Jays also received a positive update on Buchholz, who joined Toronto late in Spring Training on a one-year deal. The veteran right-hander is scheduled to throw 60 pitches at extended spring training on Wednesday, and after that he's tentatively scheduled for 75 pitches at Triple-A Buffalo on April 7.

"He's ahead of schedule," Montoyo said of Buchholz, who isn't hurt and has been spending the last couple of weeks getting stretched out. "He's doing well. He could pitch against Tampa, [April] the 13th."

Norris still missing
One pitcher who still doesn't seem close to joining the big league club is right-hander Bud Norris, who also signed late in Spring Training, and has yet to round into form. Montoyo revealed on Monday afternoon that Norris has been hitting 90-91 mph on the radar gun recently, and the Blue Jays want him closer to 95.

Montoyo indicated that he's not overly concerned about the lack of velocity quite yet. The Blue Jays are instead pointing to the fact that Norris didn't return to Spring Training until the first week of March. Late in camp, Norris also dealt with a sore right arm, and he only made three appearances during the Grapefruit League season.

Norris has been working out in Florida at extended spring training and is expected to remain there until his velocity improves.

"He threw the other day, he was OK," Montoyo said, with a lukewarm response when asked about Norris.