BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Toronto Blue Jays second baseman Devon Travis had three hits in his first rehab start at triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.
Travis, who had two shoulder surgeries in the off-season, hit leadoff for the Bisons and was 3-for-4 with a double and two RBI's in their 7-5 victory over Pawtucket.
The 25-year-old played four games for single-A Dunedin, batting .357 with a .375 on-base percentage, before joining Buffalo.
Travis appeared in just 62 games for the Blue Jays in his rookie season in 2015. He began last year on a hot streak, winning AL rookie of the month honours for April after hitting .325 with six home runs and 19 RBI's.
His shoulder problems began when a line drive hit him square in the collarbone during a game in May. The pain spread to his shoulder and turned into a months-long issue.
Toronto has been lacking a true lead-off hitter since opening the 2016 season. Centre-fielder Kevin Pillar won that job out of spring training but outfielder Michael Saunders has also started at the lead-off spot this season. Slugger Jose Bautista hit at the top of the order on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins.
