Blue Jays' Guerrero 'ahead of schedule' in oblique injury recovery

Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is progressing quicker than expected in his recovery from a left oblique strain.

Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo said Tuesday that Guerrero is "ahead of schedule," according to Arash Madani of Sportsnet.

Montoyo also said Guerrero is swinging in a batting cage, though there is no plan for him to play in minor-league games yet. He will take part in extended spring training and then head to Triple-A Buffalo.

The 20-year-old sustained a Grade 1 strain earlier this month during a spring game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The initial expectation was that he would miss three weeks.

Guerrero, baseball's top prospect, slashed .381/.437/.636 with 20 home runs across four minor-league levels in 2018. However, he had a quiet spring before the injury, as he registered just four hits, one RBI, one walk, and three strikeouts in 19 at-bats.

Questions surrounding the rookie's arrival swirled prior to the injury, as many wondered whether the Blue Jays would manipulate Guerrero's service time to gain an additional year of team control.