Blue Jays Sign Rick VandenHurk

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In a depth move Wednesday morning, the Blue Jays signed right-handed pitcher Rick VandenHurk, according to the club’s official website.

If VandenHurk, a native of Eindhoven, Netherlands, is able to crack the Major League roster at some point this season, he would be the first Dutch-born player ever to play for the Blue Jays. The 26-year-old appeared in four games for the Orioles this past season, giving up eight earned runs on 12 hits with eight walks and four home runs.

He has spent most of the last three seasons at the Triple-A level, where he went 9-13 with a 4.43 ERA in 154 innings for the Norfolk Tides in 2011 and will likely slot into the Las Vegas 51s’ rotation in 2012.

To make room for VandenHurk on the 40-man roster, the Blue Jays placed right-handed reliever Alan Farina on the 60-day disabled list. Farina, who underwent Tommy John surgery last June, is set to begin throwing bullpens in less than two weeks, according to MLB.com’s Gregor Chisholm via Twitter.

-JM

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