MINNEAPOLIS -- The Blue Jays remain cautiously optimistic that Jose Bautista will make his return to right field for Monday night's game in Washington.
Bautista hasn't played in the field since April 21 because of a strained shoulder. He has been limited to getting his at-bats in the designated hitter spot, but that's a luxury Toronto won't have at its disposal when playing in a National League park.
The series opener against the Nationals has been a target that Bautista has been hoping to hit for the past couple of weeks, and it appears as though he's making some progress in trying to make it a reality.