Blue Jays allow outfielder batting .094 to play with vertigo

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Nathan Lukes has a tangible reason behind his .094 batting average to begin the season. For now, however, he won’t get any time off to remedy it.

According to Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet, Lukes has been experiencing intermittent dizziness and nausea since spring training. He was recently diagnosed with vertigo.

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The Blue Jays’ medical staff cleared Lukes to continue playing after his diagnosis, according to Zwelling, “and their coaching staff trusted him to battle through it.”

The battle is not going well.

Lukes’ pinch-hit single April 17 in Arizona was only his third hit of the season. The Jays don’t have much leeway to give any of their major league outfielders time off.

Addison Barger (sprained ankle), George Springer (fractured toe) and Anthony Santander (shoulder labrum surgery) are all on the injured list. That’s an entire outfield on the shelf.

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Lukes was somewhat of a revelation in 2025, his first full season starting at the MLB level at the relatively late age of 30. He slashed .255/.323/.407 with 12 home runs and 65 RBIs in 135 games.

In the postseason, Lukes hit .333 in the Jays’ four-game AL Wild Card Series victory over the New York Yankees. He hit .333 again in a seven-game AL Championship Series win over the , lifting Toronto to the World Series for the first time since 1993.