Blue Jays Quick Hits: Derek Law, Joe Biagini, and more

Blue Jays news and notes from the morning of April 4, 2019, including the status of a few recently acquired players and the continued dominance of reliever Joe Biagini.

Law Assigned to Triple-A

Right-handed pitcher Derek Law, who was acquired by the Blue Jays from the San Francisco Giants in the Kevin Pillar trade, has been assigned to Triple-A Buffalo, according to the International League’s official transactions page.

Law, 28, spent the 2018 season in the majors with the Giants, pitching to an ERA of 7.43 in 13.1 innings, adding 12 strikeouts and eight walks in seven outings, all of them in relief.

De Paula Assigned to High-A

Juan De Paula, another piece acquired in the Pillar deal, has been assigned to High-A Dunedin, per the Florida State League transactions page. De Paula is currently ranked as the organization’s No. 30 prospect.

A native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, De Paula, 21, spent the 2018 season with the Short Season-A Staten Island Yankees of the New York-Penn League, pitching to an ERA of 1.71 in 47.1 frames, adding 46 strikeouts in nine starts.

Biagini Keeps Rolling Against Baltimore

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Blue Jays reliever Joe Biagini, who has been off to a tremendous start so far this season, continued that trend Wednesday against the Orioles, tossing yet another scoreless inning.

For the season, Biagini, 29 in May, has thrown 4.1 scoreless innings, has allowed just one hit (a single to Baltimore’s Pedro Severino) and has racked up seven strikeouts in four outings.

Sotillo to Double-A from Low-A

Minor-league catcher Andres Sotillo, who spent the 2018 season with the Class-A Lansing Lugnuts, has been assigned to Double-A New Hampshire, according to the Eastern League transactions page.

Sotillo, 25, slashed .261/.324/.358 in 38 games with Lansing last season, adding two home runs and 11 RBI in 134 at-bats. He was originally signed by the Blue Jays in January 2012.

Pillar to Wear No. 1 with Giants

The recently traded Kevin Pillar will wear No. 1 with the San Francisco Giants. The last member of the Giants to wear that number was fellow outfielder Grégor Blanco.

In his San Francisco debut, Pillar, 30, struck out in his only plate appearance as a pinch hitter. According to Sportsnet’s Arash Madani, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins phoned Pillar and informed him of the trade just over an hour before it was announced to the public.