Blue Jays: Roster moves – Romano returns and Palacios gets optioned

Just a few hours before the second game of the series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday afternoon, the Toronto Blue Jays announced a few roster moves:

• Jordan Romano will be returning from the injured list
• Relief pitcher Ty Tice will be called up to the active roster
• Outfielder Josh Palacios and relief pitcher Travis Bergen will be sent to the alternate training site in corresponding roster moves

For the Blue Jays, Romano is a welcome sight to an already impressive bullpen. Before he went to the injured list, the right-hander appeared in four games, crafting a 2.70 ERA with four strikeouts and three walks. His command was a bit shaky and he put himself into a few tough situations but was able to escape most scenarios and only had one earned run to his name before going down with ulnar neuritis in his pitching arm.

Relief-pitcher Ty Tice was also recalled to the roster, making his Major League debut earlier this season against the Los Angeles Angels before being sent right back to the alternate site. Pitching 2.0 innings, Tice would walk one batter and give up one hit but would pitch two clean innings with zero strikeouts, facing the likes of Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani during his outing.

More from Toronto Blue Jays News

• Single-A Dunedin Blue Jays advance to the Championship Series
• Blue Jays: Comparisons for Alek Manoah’s Second Season
• Blue Jays: Adam Cimber, the unlikely decision King
• Toronto Blue Jays: Has the Shift Killed Kevin Gausman’s 2022 Cy Young Hopes?
• Blue Jays: What Yusei Kikuchi’s latest stumble should mean

To make room for Romano on the roster, Josh Palacios was sent down to the alternate site, a move that was most likely forthcoming with fellow outfielders George Springer and Teoscar Hernandez set to return from the injured list within the next week. Impressive during Spring Training earlier this year, Palacios carried that momentum when called upon in the batting order this year, slashing .353/.421/.706 with two doubles, two triples, two home runs, and seven RBI. With Palacios being sent to the alternate site, Jonathan Davis remains on the roster as the bench outfielder.

With Tice being called up to the big league squad, southpaw Travis Bergen was moved to the alternate site in a corresponding move. He was called up to the roster yesterday but did not appear in the game and has yet to play this season.

Romano returning to the bullpen is big news as he is an integral part of the relief corps, pitching in high-pressure situations and using his fastball to put away batters. With his and Tice’s return to the roster, the already impressive group of Blue Jays relief pitchers will get an added boost that will hopefully continue to pitch well as the season moves forward.