Blue Jays select contract of RHP Jacob Waguespack

The Blue Jays have called up RHP Jacob Waguespack from Triple-A, placing Tim Mayza on the 10-day injured list.

According to Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet, the Blue Jays have selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Jacob Waguespack from Triple-A Buffalo. RHP Justin Shafer is also in Toronto but has not been activated for Sunday’s game, according to Mike Wilner of Sportsnet The FAN 590.

Nick Ashbourne of Yahoo Sports was the first to report that Waguespack was in Toronto, while John Lott of The Athletic Toronto had the news about Shafer.

In a corresponding move, the team has placed left-handed reliever Tim Mayza on the 10-day injured list with forearm tightness, something that, per Lott, is attributed to an issue with his ulnar nerve.

More from Jays Journal

• Blue Jays: Alek Manoah on pace to succeed in possible postseason
• Blue Jays: Bradley Zimmer has carved himself a valuable role
• Anthony Bass has been the shutdown reliever the Blue Jays needed
• Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. open to a long-term contract
• Blue Jays: Snapping cold streaks at the right time

Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins told reporters (including Lott) that Mayza “will be fine” after his injured list stint expires.

Waguespack, 24, was acquired at the 2018 trade deadline from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for veteran lefty Aaron Loup. Prior to coming over, the native of Prairieville, Louisiana had pitched to an ERA of 5.06 in 53.1 innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

This season, the University of Mississippi product has appeared in nine games for the Bisons, allowing 28 earned runs in 43.0 innings (5.86 ERA) while striking out 44 and walking 21.

Waguespack told Jenn Smith of Sporting News that being called up to the Blue Jays is “a dream come true”.

Shafer, now 26, rejoins the major-league team after a brief six-game stint with the Blue Jays late in the 2018 season. In 8.1 frames in the bigs last season, the native of Lake Wales, Florida allowed just three earned runs and racked up two strikeouts.

Mayza, 27, has thus far made 25 appearances for the Blue Jays, striking out 26 in 20.2 innings while serving as one of the team’s middle relievers. Last season, he made 20 appearances and posted an ERA of 4.56 in 25.2 frames.