BRANDON BELT NEWS

Teoscar Hernández has 3 hits, drives in 3 runs as Dodgers defeat Giants 3-2 for 4th straight win

Teoscar Hernández had three hits and three RBIs, including a go-ahead single in the eighth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers extended their winning streak to four games by beatin...

JULY 23, 2024 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Brandon Belt doesn't have a job, and his former Giants teammates aren't happy about it "It just sucks," infielder Wilmer Flores said. "I don't know the reason. It's hard to believe."

APRIL 5, 2024 • THEATHLETIC.COM

Why the Toronto Blue Jays shouldn't bring back Brandon Belt for the 2024 season Despite speculation that he was going to retire,

FEBRUARY 7, 2024 • BLUEJAYSNATION.COM

Brandon Belt said he's "definitely playing this year" and is reportedly nearing a contract with an unnamed team It appears that the Blue Jays best hit...

FEBRUARY 2, 2024 • BLUEJAYSNATION.COM

Bellinger? Snell? Best landing spots for 11 MLB free agents

With only a few weeks remaining before MLB camps open, here are the ideal team matches for the best free agents still on the board.

JANUARY 18, 2024

Brandon Belt on his future | 10/04/2023 Brandon Belt discusses his uncertain future in baseball after the Blue Jays were eliminated in the AL Wild Card Series

OCTOBER 5, 2023 • MLB.COM

In two hole again Wednesday Belt is starting at designated hitter and batting second Wednesday in Game 2 of the AL Wild Card Series against the Twins, Keegan Matheson of MLB.com reports.

Impact The Blue Jays are rolling out the same lineup that they featured in Game 1 as they try to stave off elimination. That includes Belt in the two spot, which is where he hit in his final three starts of the regular season. For what it's worth, Belt is 0-for-8 with a 3:1 K:BB in nine career plate appearances versus Twins starter Sonny Gray.

OCTOBER 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Homers again Sunday Belt went 2-for-5 with a solo home run in Sunday's 12-8 loss to the Rays.

Impact Belt's eighth inning home run was his third long ball over his last four games. Since May 4, the 35-year-old leads the Blue Jays with a .934 OPS and closes out the regular season with a strong slash line of .254/.369/.490 with 19 homers, 43 RBI, 53 runs and a 61:141 BB:K in 404 plate appearances. He'll figure to be in the lineup Tuesday when the Blue Jays open up the playoffs against Pablo Lopez and the Twins.

OCTOBER 2, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Brandon Belt's solo homer (19) | 10/01/2023 Brandon Belt hits a solo home run to right field to trim the Blue Jays' deficit to 12-8 in the bottom of the 8th inning

OCTOBER 1, 2023 • MLB.COM

Not in Saturday's lineup Belt will sit Saturday against the Rays.

Impact Belt has homered on back-to-back days but will nonetheless head to the bench, potentially because the Blue Jays fear the Rays could turn to a lefty after opener Shawn Armstrong. George Springer will rest his legs as the designated hitter, with Cavan Biggio starting in right field.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Goes yard again Friday Belt went 1-for-4 with a solo home run in Friday's 11-4 win over the Rays.

Impact The veteran first baseman went yard for the second straight game, launching his 18th homer of the year in the fourth inning off Erasmo Ramirez. Belt missed most of September due to a stomach bug and back trouble, but he looks 100 percent as the Jays close in on a wild-card berth, going 4-for-14 in four games since returning to the lineup with three extra-base hits and four RBI.

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Breaking down Brandon Belt's home run | 09/29/2023 The data behind Brandon Belt's home run

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 • MLB.COM

Brandon Belt's solo homer (18) | 09/29/2023 Brandon Belt connects on a solo home run to right-center field, extending the Blue Jays' lead to 5-0 in the bottom of the 4th inning

SEPTEMBER 30, 2023 • MLB.COM

Blasts three-run homer Belt went 1-for-4 with a three-run home run in Thursday's 6-0 win over the Yankees.

Impact After missing two weeks with a back injury, it only took Belt three games to launch a home run, this time plating Daulton Varsho and George Springer on a three-run shot off Zach McAllister in the sixth inning. Through 100 games, Belt is slashing .252/.371/.477 with 17 home runs and an ugly 34.8 percent strikeout rate.

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Measuring the stats on Brandon Belt's home run | 09/28/2023 The data behind Brandon Belt's home run

SEPTEMBER 29, 2023 • MLB.COM

Blue Jays activate Brandon Belt from 10-day IL The Toronto Blue Jays, whose recent hot streak has them holding the second American League wild-card position entering Tuesday’s games, acti...

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 • STAR-TELEGRAM.COM

Returns from injured list Belt (back) was reinstated from the 10-day injured list Tuesday, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Impact The veteran slugger landed on the shelf Sept. 12 with back spasms just after missing the previous eight games due to an illness, but he's now ready to rejoin the Blue Jays for the final stretch of the regular season. Belt had a strong start to the second half with a .971 OPS in his first 30 games coming out of the All-Star break, but he was mired in a 3-for-18 slump prior to his move to the injured list.

SEPTEMBER 26, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Resumes hitting Belt (back) began a hitting progression Tuesday, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet.ca reports.

Impact Manager John Schneider noted that Belt may be able to play in a rehab game with Triple-A Buffalo before the minor-league season ends, but it will depend on how quickly Belt is able to recover. The 35-year-old landed on the injured list Sept. 12 due to back spasms and should still be able to make it back to Toronto's lineup before the end of the season.

SEPTEMBER 19, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Back Spasms Send Blue Jays' Brandon Belt To IL Belt was placed on the injured list with lumbar spine muscle spasms and the Blue Jays recalled outfielder Nathan Lukes.

SEPTEMBER 13, 2023 • NEWSOBSERVER.COM

To IL with back spasms Belt was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday with lumbar spine muscle spasms.

Impact Belt exited Monday's game against the Rangers with back spasms and it's serious enough that the Blue Jays will give him at least 10 days to get right. Spencer Horwitz is essentially taking on all of Belt's duties and is hitting cleanup Tuesday against Max Scherzer.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Out with back issue Tuesday Belt (back) is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Rangers.

Impact Belt, who left Monday's game early due to lower-back muscle spasms, likely would have been in the lineup Tuesday against righty Max Scherzer if he were able physically. Spencer Horwitz will start at first base and hit cleanup. With the Jays facing lefty Jordan Montgomery on Wednesday, Belt likely will be held out until at least Thursday's matchup against Nathan Eovaldi.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Exits early Monday Belt was removed from Monday's game against the Rangers due to lower back muscle spasms.

Impact Belt will be considered day-to-day until further notice. Spencer Horwitz stepped into the DH spot in Belt's place.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Rejoins starting nine Belt (illness) is in the lineup for Monday's game against the Rangers.

Impact A back issue and an illness prevented Belt from starting Toronto's last eight games, but he has recovered from both and is ready to return to action. He will serve as the designated hitter and bat cleanup for the Blue Jays on Monday night.

SEPTEMBER 11, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting again Sunday Belt (illness) is out of the lineup again Sunday versus the Royals.

Impact Belt hasn't appeared in a game since Sept. 2, first due to back trouble and then because of an illness. Granted, he probably would have sat Sunday either way with left-hander Cole Ragans toeing the slab for Kansas City. Bo Bichette will take a turn in the DH role as Ernie Clement starts at shortstop.

SEPTEMBER 10, 2023 • ROTOWIRE

Sits again Saturday Belt (illness) remains out of the lineup Saturday against the Royals.

Impact Belt hasn't played in a week, first due to back issues and then due to a stomach virus. It's not clear exactly when he'll return to the field, but the Blue Jays haven't seen the need to place him on the injured list. Spencer Horwitz will be Saturday's designated hitter.

SEPTEMBER 9, 2023 • ROTOWIRE