HOUSTON -- Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez and reliever Tyler Clippard were presented with their World Series rings on Monday at Minute Maid Park as the Astros recognized the duo for their participation in last year's championship season.
Hernandez, who joined the Blue Jays last July in the trade for Francisco Liriano at the non-waiver Trade Deadline, was injured in his only appearance with the Astros in April 2017, after being carted off the field following a collision with Jose Altuve.
"Their ring is a gift because I didn't play for it," Hernandez said before Monday's series opener. "But I'm going to do my best to try to win a ring here, in Toronto."
Before being signed by the Blue Jays as a free agent in March, Clippard started the 2017 season with the Yankees before being traded to the White Sox in July and again to the Astros last August. Clippard did not make an appearance in the postseason, but he pitched 14 innings and struck out 18 in 16 games for Houston during the regular season.
"It was a crazy year for me," Clippard said. "I went from a Yankees team that was in contention to make the playoffs, and I was really excited about being there, to a Chicago White Sox team that was completely out of it. So that was kind of a disappointment. Then to bounce back and go to a team in the Astros that was 14 or 15 games in first place, knowing I was going to have an opportunity to play in the postseason, I was very excited.
"You work your whole career to win a World [Series] championship. To have that ring and cherish the memories that I had, I'll have it for the rest of my life. It's a very big moment, very special."
Injury updates
On Monday, the Blue Jays provided an update on Jaime Garcia and Aaron Sanchez, as the pair of starting pitchers went on the disabled list on Saturday.
Garcia (tender left shoulder) has not thrown since being placed on the DL and is continuing treatment. Sanchez (right index finger contusion) is improving daily and he will begin playing catch in the next week, according to the club.