The Blue Jays introduced a trio of transactions this morning, together with the location of catcher Tyler Heineman on the seven-day concussion-related injured record. Catcher Ali Sanchez’s contract was chosen from Triple-A to take Heineman’s spot on the energetic roster, and left-hander Josh Walker was designated for task to open up house on the 40-man roster.
Heineman has been an sudden pressure on the plate this season, hitting a whopping .396/.412/.542 over 51 plate appearances whereas performing as Alejandro Kirk’s backup. That scorching begin to the season will now be placed on maintain for no less than seven days, as Heineman will get a while to get better after a tough recreation on Thursday. Throughout Toronto’s 7-6 win over San Diego, Heineman was visibly shaken up after a pair of foul balls ricocheted off his masks, although he stayed behind the plate and caught 10 of the sport’s 11 innings.
With Heineman sidelined, Sanchez will get his first MLB motion of the 2025 season, and he’ll make his Blue Jays debut because the beginning catcher in at present’s recreation with the Rays. Thirty-one of his Sanchez’s 38 profession Main League video games got here with the Marlins final season, which marked the backstop’s first style of the Present for the reason that 2021 season. His seven earlier massive league video games got here with the Mets and Cardinals in 2020-21, and Sanchez has additionally suited up on the minor league stage within the farm programs of the Tigers, Diamondbacks, and Cubs over his 12-year professional profession.
Recognized extra for his glovework than his bat, Sanchez has hit .264/.327/.363 over 2588 profession PA within the minors, and he has a extra strong .253/.324/.440 in 102 PA with Triple-A Buffalo this season. Sanchez is out of minor league choices, so as soon as Heineman is wholesome, the Jays should designate Sanchez for task and have him clear waivers so as to ship him again to Buffalo. The catcher would have the flexibility to show down an outright task and elect free company, since Sanchez has been beforehand outrighted in his profession.
Walker was one other offseason signing for Toronto, inked to a break up contract for an MLB minimal wage prorated over his time on the Blue Jays’ energetic roster. His time on the 26-man lasted solely a few weeks, as Walker had a 7.20 ERA in 5 innings over three appearances in late April and early Could. That temporary quantity of labor no less than made it three straight seasons of Main League work for Walker, who made 24 appearances (22 1/3 innings) with the Mets in 2023-24.
Walker’s 24.2% strikeout charge and 10.9% stroll charge throughout his quick period of time within the majors trace on the general story of his profession, because the southpaw has a 26.83K% and 9.03BB% over his 276 1/3 profession innings within the minors. Each his strikeout and stroll numbers have each been rising as Walker has pitched at Triple-A over the previous few seasons, with that lack of management undermining his potential at lacking bats. The Jays apparently didn’t see sufficient to maintain Walker on the roster, although one other membership may nicely be intrigued sufficient to place in a waiver declare for some left-handed bullpen depth.
