Blue Jays: Friday Night Roster Moves

Leading into the second game of the four-game series on Friday night against the Los Angeles Angels, the Toronto Blue Jays made a half dozen roster moves which includes seeing Josh Palacios making his MLB Debut.

The Blue Jays announced that Teoscar Hernandez had been exposed to a positive COVID-19 case and will be placed on the injured reserve list.  After starting the season going 3 for 4 in the season opener and collecting a second hit a day later, he has struggled at the plate as of late.  Over the last five games, he has gone just 2 for 21 and struck out 12 times.  He currently leads all American League players with 14 strikeouts on the season.

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Ryan Borucki was also placed on the injured list due to side effects from his COVID-19 vaccination.  Borucki had looked sharp out of the bullpen so far to start the season.  Borucki had pitched in four games for a total of 3.1 IP, allowing just one earned run, and had done well to keep runners off the bases.

Tyler Chatwood was the third player to be sidelined as he too was placed on the 10-day injured list with an undisclosed injury.  The veteran pitcher had moved into a full-time role in the bullpen and has been used to get out of innings.  He had been used three times so far and had not allowed a run.

The big news is prospect Josh Palacios will be making his major league debut on Friday night as he was one of three players to be called up.  The 25-year old is ranked #29 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 30 Blue Jays prospects.  He becomes the fourth player from the 2016 MLB Draft to debut for the Blue Jays (T.J. Zeuch, Cavan Biggio, and Bo Bichette).  He took full advantage of his opportunity this spring suiting up in 20 ball games collecting 12 hits in 34 at-bats (.353) while hitting six extra-base hits and seven RBI.  He will bat ninth in the line-up and start in right field.

https://twitter.com/BlueJays/status/1380643929771679754

Joel Payamps rejoins the team after making one appearance in the opening series against the New York Yankees.  He pitched 1.1 innings, walking one and striking out one.  Ty Tice will also join the team and has yet to make his MLB Deut.  Tice struggled in Spring Training, but he has climbed up the Blue Jays system pitching at each level before the 2020 shutdown of minor league baseball.

Congratulations to Palacios on making his major league debut.