Jays Journal
FanSided

Toronto Blue Jays: Wilmer Font and his struggles this season

By Tyson Shushkewich

ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 22: Wilmer Font #63 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on August 22, 2020 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
ST PETERSBURG, FLORIDA - AUGUST 22: Wilmer Font #63 of the Toronto Blue Jays delivers a pitch during the seventh inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field on August 22, 2020 in St Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – AUGUST 26: Sean Reid-Foley #54 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks to pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Sahlen Field on August 26, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team and are playing their home games in Buffalo due to the Canadian government’s policy on coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NEW YORK – AUGUST 26: Sean Reid-Foley #54 of the Toronto Blue Jays looks to pitch during the ninth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Sahlen Field on August 26, 2020 in Buffalo, New York. The Blue Jays are the home team and are playing their home games in Buffalo due to the Canadian government’s policy on coronavirus (COVID-19). (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /

Veterans

There are multiple arms down in the Blue Jays satellite camp with MLB experience that could be used to replace Wilmer Font.

Sean Reid-Foley and Jacob Waguespack are two players that come to mind, as both pitchers have been riding the MLB-Alternate Training Site train for most of the season. Reid-Foley has only pitched in 5.2 innings so far, and hadn’t allowed an earned run prior to Monday night’s appearance, compared to Waguespack who has seen mixed results in his 13.0 innings, pitching to a 4.85 ERA with 15 strikeouts and a 1.769 WHIP.

While it is a bit early to say for certain, Sean Reid-Foley was the pitcher called up to replace Font when he went on the injured list yesterday. That’s not to say SRF is here to stay for the whole ten days and beyond, but a solid couple outings during that time against a tough opponent like the Yankees will bode well if the team does choose to move on from Font.

Justin Miller, Jake Petricka, Elvis Luciano, and Thomas Pannone are also on the 60-man player pool, and all possess prior MLB experience, but they haven’t appeared in a game for the Blue Jays all season. Only Luciano is on the 40-man roster, meaning the other three players would have to be added in order to compete in the MLB this year.

T.J. Zeuch is also at the alternate training site, but the Blue Jays appear more inclined to keep him stretched out as a starter rather than being a reliever. However, that could possibly change with the team having a surplus of starting pitching prospects and the right-hander running out of time to secure a rotation spot. Like Luciano, Zeuch is also on the 40-man roster.

Prospects

Another option the Blue Jays could choose to implement is to replace Font with a younger prospect who has no previous MLB experience.

The Blue Jays do have a few prospect pitchers at the alternate training site/taxi squad, with Hector Perez, Ty Tice, Bryan Baker, Joey Murray, and Patrick Murphy all fitting in as a potential bullpen replacement candidates. Tice and Baker have been used as relievers for a majority of their MiLB career, while Murray, Murphy, and Perez have all been used as starters over the past few seasons. One thing to note is Perez was sent to the alternate training site on a rehab assignment, but there hasn’t been any information since this occurred on July 13, 2020, so he may still be injured or possibly unavailable for the season.

Baker, Miller, Murray, Pannone, Petricka, and Tice are also currently not on the 40-man roster, so they would need to be added before making any trip to join the team.

Home/Toronto Blue Jays News