Toronto Blue Jays backup catcher Luke Maile is having a career year with the stick and last night was no exception as Maile drilled two homers including the walk-off winner versus the Boston Red Sox.
Luke Maile last connected for a round-tripper nearly a year ago on May 31st, last night the backstop went deep for a game-tying homer in the 7th off Chris Sale and then again in the 12th off Brian Johnson for the game-winning heroics.
Maile is batting .339/.418/.542 with 20 hits, seven of which are for extra bases including a triple and 14 runs batted in so far this season. He is also 9 for 18 with 11 runs batted in with runners in scoring position in 24 plate appearances.
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The 27-year old will be back behind the dish once again today as Manager John Gibbons showed his cards postgame proclaiming that Maile will be back out there with Russell Martin moving over to third base.
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Russell Martin has warmed up of late offensively but is still only hitting .151/.277/.360 with 13 hits and five home runs in 25 games. Nobody would have believed that Maile would be outhitting Martin at the beginning of the campaign especially after how dismal of a season Maile had in 2017.
The backup hit .146 with two home runs in 46 games last year but also spent some time on the disabled list with a knee injury. He definitely appears to be firing on all cylinders and channeling his offensive prowess this season.
Perhaps the Jays can call-up Danny Jansen, designate Kendrys Morales and use Maile as the designated hitter if he keeps producing at this impressive clip. That probably won’t happen but you will see Martin at third and Josh Donaldson slotted into DH with Maile getting the catching responsibilities more often in the near future.
John Gibbons has shown he is going to go with the hot hand and it looks like he will get creative with his roster juggling to make that happen.
Next: Blue Jays: Why does Russell Martin get off the hook?
It doesn’t matter if the dome is open or closed the Maile Man will deliver.