Toronto Blue Jays: Handing out the internal awards for the 2021 season

TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 02: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates with Teoscar Hernnadez #37 after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during a MLB game against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on October 2, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - OCTOBER 02: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates with Teoscar Hernnadez #37 after hitting a two-run home run in the first inning during a MLB game against the Baltimore Orioles at Rogers Centre on October 2, 2021 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 09: Tim Mayza #58 of the Toronto Blue Jays in action against the New York Yankees at Yankee Stadium on September 09, 2021 in New York City. The Blue Jays defeated the Yankees 6-4. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

Comeback Player of the Year

Winner:  Tim Mayza

Honourable Mentions:  Reese McGuire

One of the longest-tenured Blue Jays on the roster since being drafted by the club back in 2013, Tim Mayza has been on a bit of a wild ride over the past few seasons when it comes to finding his place on the Blue Jays roster.

Riding the options bus since his debut in 2017, the left-hander would undergo Tommy John surgery late in the 2019 season and the Blue Jays would outright him to AAA at the end of the year, removing him from the 40-man roster after making 68 appearances for the club that season. The move was met with criticism given what Mayza did for the Jays that year but made sense given the club needed his spot on the roster and he would be sidelined for the entire 2020 season.

Mayza would return to the Blue Jays in 2021 and would find a spot on the Opening Day roster in the bullpen, besting a few other players for a spot such as veteran Francisco Liriano. The Pennsylvania product would be one of the Blue Jays’ top left-handed options in the bullpen this season, making 62 appearances and finishing the season with a 3.40 ERA through 53.0 innings of work, posting a 0.98 WHIP with 57 strikeouts and 12 walks in the process.

Next. Looking at the bright side of the 2021 season. dark

He is easily the recipient of the Comeback Player of the Year Award given the recent TMJ surgery and how he became one of the most dependable arms in the Blue Jays bullpen this season, pitching in multiple high pressure situations and giving the club a dependable option from the left-side.