Category: Torontio Blue Jays,

Jays fill 40-man roster

BLUE JAYS SET 40-MAN ROSTER

The Toronto Blue Jays announce the following players have been selected to the Major League roster:

  • C Riley Adams from Double-A New Hampshire
  • INF Otto Lopez from Class-A Lansing
  • C Gabriel Moreno from Class-A Lansing
  • OF Josh Palacios from Triple-A Buffalo
  • RHP Ty Tice from Double-A New Hampshire

Toronto’s 40-man roster now stands at 40.

Adams, 24, was selected by the Blue Jays in the third round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft. The native of Encinitas, CA, batted .273 during Spring Training and spent the 2020 season at the club’s alternate training site. Over the course of three Minor League seasons, the 6-4, 235 lb. catcher has hit .265 with 60 doubles, four triples, 21 home runs, and 129 RBI while throwing out 39.2% of attempted stolen bases.

Lopez, 22, took part in three games during Spring Training where he recorded a pair of doubles in six at-bats. The 5-10, 160 lb. right-handed batter spent his 2019 campaign with Class-A Lansing and slashed .324/.371/.425 across 108 contests while stealing 20 bases. The Dominican infielder signed with Toronto as an international free agent in 2016 and holds a .310 batting average with 61 extra-base hits over three Minor League seasons.

Moreno, 20, spent the 2020 season at Toronto’s alternate training site in Rochester, NY. The catcher from Barquisimeto, Venezuela, signed with the Blue Jays in 2016 and batted .280 with an .823 OPS for Class-A Lansing in 2019. The 5-11, 160 lb. right-handed hitter boasts a .294 batting average with 38 doubles, eight triples, 16 home runs, and 105 RBI while posting a 34.4% caught-stealing rate over the course of 154 Minor League games.

Palacios, 25, was selected by the Blue Jays in the fourth round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft. The Auburn University product played in 13 Spring Training games and spent his summer at the club’s alternate training site. The outfielder from Brooklyn hit .266 with Double-A New Hampshire in 2019 and has posted a .288/.366/.403 line while recording 79 doubles, 13 triples, 17 home runs, and 173 RBI over four Minor League campaigns. 

Tice, 24, posted a 3.86 ERA in five games during Spring Training and spent the summer at the club’s alternate training site in Rochester, NY. The 5-9, 185 lb. right-handed reliever split the 2019 season between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple-A Buffalo, combining for a 2.34 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. The University of Central Arkansas product was selected by Toronto in the 16th round of the of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft and has gone 11-12 with a 2.09 ERA across 113 Minor League appearances.  

– BLUE JAYS –

Progress in Dunedin

The artificial turf field at the Toronto Blue Jays new player development complex in Dunedin is progressing. The small stone base for the turf is in place and work is progressing but it appears that this along with the other fields and clubhouse won’t be ready in time for the start of spring training in mid- February. This particular field is being built on top of two former dog parks, a wetland and a supposed spring fed pond. That along with a children’s bike path to the elementary school in the back ground it has been built over.

A new high fence is being erected at the Toronto Blue Jays new minor-league complex in Dunedin to protect the adjacent elementary school children from batted balls landing in their playground. Two sides of the playground have baseball fields adjacent to it. — Photos and text from Eddie Michels.

Another angle of the base for the artificial turf field at the new minor-league complex.

TEPERA BECOMES FREE AGENT

TEPERA CLEARS RELEASE WAIVERS
 The TORONTO BLUE JAYS announced that RHP RYAN TEPERA has cleared release waivers and is now a free agent. TEPERA, 32, put together a 0-2 record with a 4.98 ERA across 22 relief appearances and one start last season. He started the season on the 10-day injured list with right elbow inflammation and made his season debut on April 18. The righty made 12 appearances before returning to the injured list on May 21 with a right elbow impingement. He was selected by the Blue Jays in the 19th round of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. The Houston, TX, native has a career record of 12-11 with a 3.64 ERA across five seasons with Toronto. He was previously designated for assignment on November 4. Player Profile: Ryan Teperahttps://www.mlb.com/player/ryan-tepera-572193