Blue Jays Monday Morning Mailbag: Harris, Lavarnway, Loup

Jon Harris walks back to the dugout after a fielding drill in Dunedin, Fla. / Credit: Braydon Holmyard
Jon Harris walks back to the dugout after a fielding drill in Dunedin, Fla. / Credit: Braydon Holmyard /
facebooktwitterreddit

The Blue Jays Monday Morning Mailbag is back for another week. Each week, we’ll be taking your questions and highlighting important issues surrounding the Toronto Blue Jays.

Submit your questions anytime over Twitter, and subscribe to The Jays Nest Podcast for more weekly coverage releasing every Tuesday morning.

Twitter:
@KeeganMatheson
@JaysJournal

Podcast:  Subscribe for iOS / iTunes     –     Subscribe for Android

After a successful opening to a block of American League East action against the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, including Saturday’s electrifying walk-off, the Blue Jays seem to be approaching their early-season expectations.

On the transactional side, the Jays made a minor move this week by adding catcher Ryan Lavarnway. While he’s found success at the triple-A level throughout his career, hitting .282, Lavarnway has struggled offensively at the major league level with a .198 average. Currently playing with the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats, Lavarnway does offer Toronto some quality organizational depth. One viewer asks if he could be a challenge to Josh Thole.

Lansing’s Jon Harris has also been making headlines for his brilliant start to the season, and despite a rocky outing this past weekend, could soon be looking at a promotion to Dunedin. We discuss where Harris fits in this season’s plans, and where he could project in 2017.

Aaron Loup has also resurfaced on the Blue Jays. What will he need to do to recapture his 2014-and-prior form? I think that less will be more for the lefty.

The incredible run from Wade LeBlanc at the triple-A level also inspires the introduction of the Blue Jays Monday Morning Mailbag hashtag.

Toronto kicks off another three-game set against the New York Yankees tonight as Marco Estrada (2-2, 2.76 ERA) is scheduled to face Ivan Nova (3-2, 3.65).