Toronto Blue Jays – The view from left field

BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE COFFEY, PAULINO, & BATISTA FOR JANSEN

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired INF Cutter Coffey, INF Eddinson Paulino, & RHP Gilberto Batista from the Boston Red Sox in exchange for C Danny Jansen.

Coffey, 20, has spent the 2024 season at High-A Greenville, batting .238 with 12 doubles, 14 home runs, 46 RBI, a .463 SLG, and a .784 OPS. The 6-1, 190 lb. right-handed hitter was selected by the Red Sox in the 2^nd round of the 2022 First-Year Player Draft, out of Liberty High School in Bakersfield, CA. The infielder has played a total of 171 Minor League contests across three levels, hitting .216 with 29 doubles, two triples, 20 home runs, and 81 RBI, spending time defensively at second base, third base, and shortstop.

Paulino, 22, has spent the 2024 season at Double-A Portland, hitting .263 with 16 doubles, three triples, three home runs, 35 RBI, 29 walks, 10 stolen bases, and a .740 OPS across 69 games. The Santiago, D.R., native was signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2018. The 5-10, 155 lb. left-handed hitter has made 369 Minor League appearances for the Red Sox, batting .270 with 97 doubles, 25 triples, 28 home runs, 182 RBI, 70 stolen bases, and a .799 OPS.

Batista, 19, is currently in is second professional campaign, making a total of eight appearances (five starts) this season with the Florida Complex League Red Sox, posting a 3.92 ERA across 20.2 innings of work with 23 strikeouts, a 1.50 WHIP, and a .220 opponent batting average. The 6-0, 165 lb. right-hander was signed by the Red Sox as an international free agent in 2022. A native of the Dominican Republic, has made a total of 19 career Minor League appearances (14 starts), combining to go 1-6 with a 3.67 ERA in 61.1 total innings, recording 77 strikeouts, and a 1.19 WHIP.

Jansen, 29, appeared in 61 games for the Blue Jays in 2024, batting .212 with 13 doubles, six home runs, and 18 RBI. The Elmhurst, IL, native was selected by the Blue Jays in the 16^th round of the 2013 First-Year Player Draft, making his MLB debut for the club in 2018. Jansen has spent the entirety of his MLB career in Toronto, playing a total of 470 games for the Major League team, batting .222 with 72 doubles, a triple, 71 home runs, 214 RBI, and a .733 OPS.

– BLUE JAYS –

BLUE JAYS ACQUIRE RIVERA & PINANGO FOR PEARSON

The Toronto Blue Jays have acquired SS Josh Rivera & OF Yohendrick Pinango from the Chicago Cubs in exchange for RHP Nate Pearson.

Additionally, RHP Ryan Burr has been recalled from Triple-A Buffalo and will be active for today’s game, and RHP Jordan Romano has been transferred to the 60-day injured list (right elbow inflammation).

Rivera, 23, has appeared in 68 games for the Cubs Double-A affiliate in Tennessee this season, batting .169 with four doubles, two triples, four home runs, and 16 RBI, posting a .971 fielding percentage in 596.2 innings at shortstop. The Sebring, FL, native was selected by the Cubs in the 3^rd round of the 2023 First-Year Player Draft, out of the University of Florida. The 6-2, 215 lb. right-handed hitter has played a total of 96 career Minor League games, across three levels, batting .199 with 22 extra-base hits and 32 RBI.

Pinango, 22, has split the 2024 campaign between High-A South Bend and Double-A Tennessee, combining to hit .263 with 18 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 40 RBI, 45 walks, and a .797 OPS. The 5-11, 170 lb. left-handed hitter was signed by the Cubs as an international free agent in 2018. A native of Carora, Venezuela, the outfielder has played a total of 473 career Minor League contests, batting .272 with 100 doubles, 10 triples, 33 home runs, 220 RBI, and a .730 OPS.

Pearson, 27, has made 41 appearances for the Blue Jays this season, posting a 5.63 ERA with 51 strikeouts and a 1.55 WHIP. The 6-6, 255 lb. right-handed reliever was selected by the Blue Jays in the 1^st round (28^th overall) of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft, making his big league debut for the club in 2020. The Odessa, FL, native and former top prospect has made 93 career MLB appearances (5 starts), going 7-4 with a 5.21 ERA across 115.2 combined innings, recording a 10.12 strikeout per nine rate.

– BLUE JAYS –

YANKEES 3, BLUE JAYS 2

Postgame Notes for Monday, May 2, 2022
NEW YORK YANKEES (17-6) at TORONTO BLUE JAYS (15-9)
R H E LOB Win: Holmes (2-0)
NEW YORK 3 7 0 5 Loss: García (0-2)
TORONTO 2 9 1 6 Save: Green (1)
First Pitch: 7:07 pm One-Run Games: 9-3 Temperature: 20°C/68°F
Last Pitch: 10:01 pm Extra-Inning Games: 1-1 Wind: N/A
Game Time 2:54 Comeback Wins: 7 Attendance: 18,577
BLUE JAYS NOTES:
• Dropped to 15-9 overall this season and 9-5 at Rogers Centre…Have still won nine of their last 13
games…Slipped to 5-3 in series openers this year and 7-5 against the AL East…Are now 2-3 against New
York this season…Moved to 7-3 on the year when outhitting their opponent, and 9-3 in one-run games.
• ROSS STRIPLING tossed 4.0 innings, giving up a pair of runs on five hits with no walks and three
strikeouts…The only damage came on a Gleyber Torres two-run homer in the 4th, the first home run
surrendered by Stripling this season…Has given up exactly five hits in each of his last three
outings…Marked the 10th time a Blue Jays starter has not issued a walk this season, tied with Tampa for the
most such instances in the Majors.
• BO BICHETTE drove in Toronto’s first run of the game with an RBI double in the 4th, his 3rd double of the
season, all of which have come against New York…Also singled in the 6th, finishing the game 2-for-4, his 6th
multi-hit game of the year.
• GEORGE SPRINGER singled in the 1st and 4th innings, going 2-for-4 on the night…Marked his 9th multi-hit
game of the season…Has hit safely in four of five games against the Yankees this year, batting .364 (8-for22) with two doubles, a home run, and four RBI (.982 OPS).
• LOURDES GURRIEL JR. hit safely for a 5th straight game after a single in the bottom of the 8th…Has
notched at least one hit in 18 of 24 games this season.
• TYLER HEINEMAN extended his hitting streak to three games with a double in the 7th, part of a 1-for-3
effort…Has gone 4-for-11 (.364) across six games this season with a pair of doubles and an RBI (.909
OPS).
YANKEES NOTES:
• Extended their season-high winning streak to 10 games, the longest streak in the Majors this season…The
10-game win streak is tied for their 2nd longest since 2006, trailing only a 13-game streak from 8/14-
8/27/21…Moved to 17-6 overall on the season and 7-3 away from Yankee Stadium…Are now 9-5 against
divisional opponents this year, and 14-1 when hitting at least one home run.
• JORDAN MONTGOMERY gave up two runs on six hits over 5.0 innings with no walks and five
strikeouts…Has allowed 3ER or fewer in every start this year, and in 29 of his 35 starts since the beginning
of 2021…Yankee starters have allowed 3ER or fewer in 22 of 23 starts this season, and no more than 2ER
in 18 of those starts.
• GLEYBER TORRES opened the scoring with a two-run home run in the 4th, his 3rd longball of the year…Also drove in the go-ahead run in the top of the 9th with a two-out single…Finished the game 2-for-4
with 3 RBI, his 4th multi-hit game of the season.
• DJ LeMAHIEU singled and stole a base in the 3rd, part of a 1-for-4 night…Has reached base safely in 17 of his last 18 games, hitting .324 (23-for-71) with 12 runs, five doubles, a home run, and eight RBI in that span.
HOME RUNS # Outs Type Field Count Off Inning Score Before
Gleyber Torres 3 2 2R RCF 1-1 Stripling 4th 0-0
UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS: (All Times Eastern)
Tuesday, May 3 vs. New York Yankees, 7:07 pm…RHP Alek Manoah (4-0, 1.44) vs. RHP Jameson Taillon (1-1, 3.26)
Wednesday, May 4 vs. New York Yankees, 7:07 pm…LHP Yusei Kikuchi (0-1, 5.52) vs. LHP Nestor Cortes (1-0, 1.31)

BLUE JAYS 3, ASTROS 2

Postgame Notes for Sunday, May 1, 2022
HOUSTON ASTROS (11-11) at TORONTO BLUE JAYS (15-8)
R H E LOB Win: Gausman (2-1)
HOUSTON 2 8 1 6 Loss: Valdez (1-2)
TORONTO 3 3 1 2 Save: Romano (11)
First Pitch: 1:39 pm One-Run Games: 9-2 Temperature: 20°C/68°F
Last Pitch: 4:31 pm Extra-Inning Games: 1-1 Wind: N/A
Game Time 2:52 Comeback Wins: 7 Attendance: 31,802
BLUE JAYS NOTES:
• Won their 9th one-run game of the season (9-2), the most one-run wins in the Majors…Four of their
one-run wins have come against Houston…Improved to 15-8 overall this season and 9-4 at Rogers Centre
with their 7th comeback win of the year…Won their 6th series of the season, moving to 6-0-1 in series
play…The seven undefeated series to start the year ties a franchise record set in 1992…Have won
nine of their last 12 games…Went 4-2 against the Astros this year, the first time they’ve won a season
series against Houston since 2016 (5-2)…Are now 3-0 in rubber games in 2022 (9-10 in 2021).
• With Bichette’s 2-run home run in the 6th, the Blue Jays now boast six players with at least 10 RBI this
season, the most in the Majors (Guerrero Jr. – 16, Springer – 12, Chapman – 12, Espinal – 11, Gurriel Jr. –
10, Bichette – 10).
• KEVIN GAUSMAN tossed 7.0 innings of two-run ball, giving up six hits with no walks and a season-high 10
strikeouts…Became the 1st Blue Jays pitcher this season with a double-digit strikeout game…Has struck out
at least eight hitters in each of his last four starts…Induced a season-high 22 swing-and-misses on the
afternoon…Has faced 122 batters this season without issuing any walks or home runs.
• BO BICHETTE smacked his 3rd home run of the year, a 2-run shot to right in the 6th, breaking up Framber
Valdez’s no-hit bid…All three of his home runs this season have either tied the game or given the Blue Jays
the lead…Finished the day 1-for-4.
• SANTIAGO ESPINAL plated the game-winning run with a single in the 7th, part of a 1-for-3 effort…Hit safely
in five of six games against the Astros this season, going a combined 6-for-22 (.273) with two doubles, two
homers, and four RBI (.909 OPS).
• JORDAN ROMANO earned his 11th save of the season by pitching a scoreless 9th inning (1.0 IP, H, K)…At
the end of the game, his 11 saves were the most in the Majors.
• VINNY CAPRA made his MLB debut, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout while playing six innings in left field.
ASTROS NOTES:
• Dropped to an even 11-11 on the season…Are now 9-7 away from Minute Maid Park…Their nine road wins
are still tied for the most in the Majors…Slipped to 2-4-1 in series play this year.
• FRAMBER VALDEZ went 5.1 no-hit innings before allowing a 2-run homer to Bo Bichette…Ended up going
6.1 innings, giving up three runs on two hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts…Has gone at least 6.0
innings in three of his five starts this season…Surrendered a home run for the 1st time this season.
• KYLE TUCKER extended his hitting streak to seven games by singling in the 2nd…Has hit .520 (13-for-25)
with three doubles, two homers, and 11 RBI over his current hitting streak (1.380 OPS)…Finished the day
with two singles, a double, and two stolen bases, his 3rd 3-hit game of the year and his 3rd career game with
multiple swipes.
• ALEDMYS DÍAZ opened the scoring with an RBI single in the 6th…Also singled in the 8th, finishing the game
2-for-4, his 2nd multi-hit game of the season (also: 4/8 at LAA).
• CHAS McCORMICK notched his 1st career triple in the top of the 6th before coming around to score the
game’s opening run, part of a 1-for-4 afternoon…Has hit safely in each of his last four games against
Toronto, batting .353 (6-for-17) with two doubles, a triple, and two RBI (.988 OPS).
• NIKO GOODRUM single in the 5th before plating a run with a double in the 7th…Marked his 1st RBI of the
season and his 2nd multi-hit game.
HOME RUNS # Outs Type Field Count Off Inning Score Before
Bo Bichette 3 2 2R RF 1-1 Valdez 6th 0-1
UPCOMING PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS: (All Times Eastern)
Monday, May 2 vs. New York Yankees, 7:07 pm…RHP Ross Stripling (0-0, 3.60) vs. LHP Jordan Montgomery (0-1, 2.7)
Tuesday, May 3 vs. New York Yankees, 7:07 pm…RHP Alek Manoah (4-0, 1.44) vs. RHP Jameson Taillon (1-1, 3.26)
Wednesday, May 4 vs. New York Yankees, 7:07 pm…LHP Yusei Kikuchi (0-1, 5.52) vs. LHP Nestor Cortes (1-0, 1.31

Aces high: Jays starter Ryu ready to resume preparations for opening day start — Toronto Sun

With a rebuilt rotation anchored by ace Hyun-Jin Ryu, the Blue Jays are armed and ready to have considerably more stability on the mound in 2020 than they did this past season. Read More
Aces high: Jays starter Ryu ready to resume preparations for opening day start — Toronto Sun

2020 MLB Draft: Winners, Losers Of Baseball’s Unique, Five-Round Event — NESN.com

The 2020 Major League Baseball Draft is in the books, and there’s far less to sort through this year, as the event consisted of just five rounds — instead of the usual 40 — in response to the coronavirus pandemic. There were 160 players selected Wednesday as part of the two-night draft, which was held…
2020 MLB Draft: Winners, Losers Of Baseball’s Unique, Five-Round Event — NESN.com

The 2020 Major League Baseball Draft is in the books, and there’s far less to sort through this year, as the event consisted of just five rounds — instead of the usual 40 — in response to the coronavirus pandemic. There were 160 players selected Wednesday and Thursday as part of the two-night draft, which was held remotely and seemed even more bizarre given the uncertainty hanging over the 2020 MLB season. So, which teams made the most of the condensed format and which teams whiffed with their picks? Let’s break down the winners and losers, acknowledging full well it’s nearly impossible to place teams into two such buckets in the immediate aftermath of an MLB draft since it often takes years for the players chosen (and signed) to make an impact at the major league level.

WINNERS

Detroit Tigers The Tigers owned the No. 1 pick and they didn’t screw it up. While one could argue Austin Martin is a better all-around player than Spencer Torkelson, selected first overall out of Arizona State, the Tigers added a prodigious power-hitting prospect who could mash from the middle of their order sooner rather than later. If that’s not enough, Detroit used its second-round pick on Ohio State catcher Dillon Dingler, who many were stunned to see go undrafted on Day 1, and its Competitive Balance Round B pick on LSU outfielder Daniel Cabrera, another college prospect who fills an organizational need for near-MLB-ready bats.

Kansas City Royals Don’t be surprised if we look back several years down the road and wonder how three players were selected ahead of Texas A&M left-hander Asa Lacy, whom the Royals picked at No. 4 overall. This year’s draft was loaded with college pitchers, and Lacy arguably is the best of the bunch. He’s a hard-throwing southpaw with the type of stuff scouts dream about, so there’s definitely ace upside there. Kansas City supplemented the Lacy selection with strong picks in subsequent rounds, highlighted by Nick Loftin at No. 32 overall. Loftin, a Baylor product, might be the best shortstop in the draft, although he also has the versatility to play other positions.

Toronto Blue Jays Martin was in the discussion to go No. 1 overall, and he seemed like a lock to go No. 2 once the Tigers picked Torkelson. Instead, the Baltimore Orioles threw everyone for a loop by selecting Arkansas outfielder Heston Kjerstad, paving the way for Martin to fall to No. 5, where the Blue Jays nabbed perhaps the best all-around player in the draft. Toronto already has an impressive young core. It’ll soon become even stronger. MLB Draft Results: Here’s Every Pick Of Five-Round 2020 Draft

LOSERS

Baltimore Orioles The Orioles owned the No. 2 pick and, unlike the Tigers, they did screw it up. Or so it seems. While Kjerstad could develop into a nice player, the flaws in his game — namely his strikeout tendencies — make it difficult to justify the selection, especially since Baltimore didn’t really take advantage of the money it presumably saved by drafting him over Martin. If you own the No. 2 pick, you better come away with an elite prospect. The O’s didn’t.

San Francisco Giants The Giants selected catcher Joey Bart with the No. 2 pick in the 2018 draft. Now, two years later, they went back to the same well, choosing North Carolina State backstop Patrick Bailey. This obviously gives San Francisco enviable depth behind the plate, but Bailey’s offensive upside is limited relative to other prospects available. The Giants, who owned seven picks, including five among the top 85, should’ve aimed a bit higher

. Texas Rangers The Boston Red Sox raised some eyebrows on Day 1 by selecting Nick Yorke at No. 17. But what about the Rangers following up their selection of Justin Foscue at No. 14 — a reach in itself — by choosing Evan Carter at No. 50. Carter wasn’t ranked among MLB Pipeline’s top 200 prospects. In fact, he wasn’t ranked among Baseball America’s top 500 prospects. Texas hasn’t drafted well in recent years, and it appears that trend has continued.

Obituary: Rich Hacker (1947-2020) — RIP Baseball

RIP to Rich Hacker, who played one season in the major leagues before embarking on a substantial career as a minor-league manager and major-league coach. He died on April 22 at the age of 72. He had been diagnosed with leukemia 15 months ago and died in Fairview Heights, Ill. Hacker played for the 1971 […]
Obituary: Rich Hacker (1947-2020) — RIP Baseball

Back to health and back in the American League, Josh Donaldson is ready to pick up where he left off — Toronto Sun

FORT MYERS, Fla. — Like the rockets he sends over the outfield walls around Major League Baseball, Josh Donaldson believed he was always going to land a home-run contract. Read More
Back to health and back in the American League, Josh Donaldson is ready to pick up where he left off — Toronto Sun