Blue Jays’ Aaron Sanchez hit around in rehab assignment

Toronto Blue Jays hurler Aaron Sanchez made his first rehab assignment with the Dunedin Blue Jays yesterday as the hurler attempts to make his way back from blister issues on his throwing hand.

Aaron Sanchez has been sidelined since May 19th with nagging blister issues that have plagued him all season long. The 24-year old has been on the disabled list three times making only five starts for the Blue Jays thus far this season.

Sanchez suited up for High-A Dunedin in another attempt to put the blister issues behind him. The 2016 All-Star suited up opposite the Bradenton Marauders tossing 64 pitches, 36 which were strikes in 3.2 innings of work. The Marauders touched up Sanchez for 3 runs scattered over 6 hits in his outing. Sanchez walked 2 batters while fanning 3 along the way earning him a 7.36 earned run average for the outing.

The Jays initial timeline was for Sanchez to pitch yesterday and then again on Sunday with the end goal to hopefully activate him before the All-Star break. The Blue Jays complexion for the season could be much different with a healthy Sanchez for the long haul.

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The activation of Sanchez will in all likelihood spell the end of Joe Biagini in the starting rotation. Biagini has struggled of late and the Jays will more than likely be better served with Biagini back in the bullpen.

The Blue Jays are a little thin in the bullpen with the injury to Joe Smith and the designation of Jason Grilli so the Sanchez timing could not be better.

Sanchez was the feel good story of 2016 as he thrust himself into the conversation as a legit number one major league starter. Sanchez made the All-Star team and finished seventh in American League Cy Young voting after a dominating season.

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The Jays fingers are crossed that Sanchez and the training staff has done their due diligence to rectify these blister issues once and for all, so Sanchez can get back to doing what he does best.