Blue Jays Quick Hits: Eric Sogard, Clayton Richard, and more

Blue Jays news and notes from Victoria Day 2019, including a minor injury to Eric Sogard and the potential return of starting pitcher Clayton Richard.

Sogard day-to-day with sprained thumb

According to a team announcement, Eric Sogard was removed from Monday’s starting lineup with a sprained left thumb. TSN’s Scott Mitchell adds that the sprain occurred in Chicago when Sogard slid into first base, noting that the infielder is now listed as day-to-day.

Richard “likely” to pitch Thursday

Clayton Richard, who is now with the team after a lengthy battle with a knee issue, will “likely” start Thursday’s game against Boston, report both Mitchell and The Athletic’s Kaitlyn McGrath. Richard, 35, recently pitched 3.1 scoreless innings at Triple-A Buffalo in a rehab start.

Burland to High-A

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Right-handed pitcher Gage Burland has been assigned to the High-A Dunedin Blue Jays from the Rookie-level Bluefield Blue Jays, the Florida State League transactions page indicates. Burland, 23, appeared in two games for Bluefield last season after being drafted in the 22nd round out of Lewis-Clark State College.

Kratz heads to Tampa Bay

Former Blue Jay Erik Kratz, who recently became a postseason success story for the Milwaukee Brewers, is once again playing for an AL East team, after being acquired by the Rays from the Giants in a minor swap last week. Kratz, now 38, appeared in 34 games for the Blue Jays in 2014, slashing .198/.226/.346 and has since played for seven different teams.

Townshend assigned to Dunedin

In other MiLB news, RHP Grant Townsend also moves from Bluefield to Dunedin, the team announced. Townsend, 21, was drafted out of Oral Roberts last season and was soon assigned to Bluefield, where he pitched 26.1 innings to an ERA of 5.47.

Snider raking at Triple-A Reno

Once a top prospect in the Blue Jays organization, outfielder Travis Snider, who signed a minor-league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this season, is raking with the Reno Aces, their Triple-A affiliate. In 38 games, Snider, 31, boasts an OPS of .900 and has smashed four home runs and 12 doubles in 124 at-bats.