Eight-year MLB veteran pitcher added to Blue Jays Spring Training camp roster

The Toronto Blue Jays continue to add to their pitching depth by making another move early in the Spring Training process. On Saturday morning (Feb. 14) the Blue Jays brought in right-handed pitcher Jesse Hahn, signing him to a minor league contract.

Hahn, a veteran of eight MLB season's is the latest journeyman pitcher to join the Blue Jays this offseason.

Eight-year MLB veteran pitcher added to Blue Jays Spring Training camp roster

Hahn was originally drafted by the Tampa Bay Rays in the sixth round of the 2010 MLB draft and he has spent time with six different organizations since then. Hahn made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 2014, and in 14 games, including 12 starts, he pitched an effective 73.1 innings, with a 3.07 ERA, racking up 70 strikeouts with a 1.214 WHIP.

The following four seasons were spent with Oakland, where he pitched in 39 games over three years with the Athletics, producing a bWAR of 0.5. with a cumulative 4.57 ERA. from there he was off to the Kansas City Royals where he got into 29 games, all as a reliever, for the next three seasons between 2019-2021.

Hahn didn't resurface in the majors again following that stint until this past season where he made a three game cameo with the Seattle Mariners, pitching to a 5.40 ERA in five innings out of the bullpen. In the minor leagues, Hahn has proven himself to be a big groundball pitcher, who hasn't been able to get his control under his command.

The Blue Jays will likely look to stash him as emergency depth for their bullpen as most of the top spots in the 'pen are already accounted for. If the Blue Jays indeed get Yimi Garcia back healthy to start the season, he will join a back half of the bullpen that includes: Jeff Hoffman as the likely closer, with Tyler Rogers and Louis Varland as set up guys. After Bradon Fisher's breakout rookie campaign in 2025, he's got an inside track on an Opening Day spot, while lefties Brendon Little and Eric Lauer also figure into the mix.

That really only leaves one spot open and Tommy Nance, who pitched to a 1.99 ERA in 30 games last season with Toronto, is out of options and the 34-year-old, who turns 35 in about a month, will also be in a "it's his job to lose" situation throughout spring, and the early part of the season at least.

However, it's a trend of this offseason for the Blue Jays to continue adding veteran MLB arms who are coming in on minor league deals, including Josh Fleming, Connor Seabold, Josh Winckowski, and Michael Plasmeyer to name a few.