The Blue Jays introduced this afternoon that they’ve recalled right-hander Spencer Turnbull from Triple-A Buffalo. In a corresponding transfer, right-hander Paxton Schultz was optioned to Triple-A.
Turnbull, 32, signed with Toronto on a one-year deal final month. The appropriate-hander was added to the 40-man roster on the time of the signing however agreed to be optioned to the minor leagues on the time of his signing so he might construct up his arm after lacking all of Spring Coaching attributable to being unsigned. He made his fifth rehab look on Friday, when he threw 80 pitches throughout 4 2/3 innings of five-run ball in opposition to the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate. Regardless of these shaky outcomes, it represented Turnbull’s longest look each when it comes to pitch depend and batters confronted.
Which will have been shut sufficient to a full large league begin that the Jays had been comfy including him again to the roster, but it surely’s value noting that Turnbull’s optionally available task might solely final a most of 35 days. That window would have expired tomorrow, which means that Turnbull’s addition to the roster was imminent until he suffered an harm or agreed to an extended keep within the minors. Regardless of his shaky rehab outings, the addition of Turnbull into the fold ought to hopefully present a stabilizing pressure for a Jays pitching workers in critical want of reinforcements.
The righty had an up-and-down profession over 5 years with the Tigers the place he at instances flashed the power to be a high quality mid-rotation arm however was too typically held again by accidents. He loved his healthiest season in years with the Phillies final 12 months, and whereas he did in the end miss the second half of the season with a lat pressure he made 17 appearances (together with seven begins) the place he pitched to a formidable 2.65 ERA with a 3.85 FIP and three.67 SIERA aross 54 1/3 innings of labor. He struck out a career-high 26.1% of opponents whereas strolling a reasonably manageable 9.0%, and regardless of the season-ending harm re-entered free company with a reasonably robust argument for a stable contract.
Whereas he in the end lingered on the open market lengthy sufficient to get snapped up by the Blue Jays on what was successfully a $1MM assure, the expertise Turnbull flashed final 12 months would go a protracted technique to shoring up a beleaguered pitching workers in Toronto. They’ve been working with a four-man rotation of late, and it appears pretty possible that Turnbull will now be a part of that blend at the very least till an injured pitcher like Max Scherzer or Alek Manoah is able to step again right into a rotation function with the workforce. With no starter in line for his or her recreation in opposition to the Cardinals on June 11, it will be no shock if the right-hander finally ends up taking the ball that day.
With that being mentioned, Shi Davidi of Sportsnet urged the chance that Turnbull might both start his time with the Jays within the bullpen or maybe piggyback with southpaw Eric Lauer, who has been pitching in a protracted aid function for Toronto this season. Turnbull’s no stranger to a swing function after his work in Philadelphia final 12 months; he began his first six appearances with the Phillies earlier than shifting to the bullpen final Could and being utilized in a versatile function that noticed him make each single-inning aid appearances lasting lower than 20 pitchers and multi-inning appearances that pushed 60 pitches. Whether or not the Blue Jays in the end determine to start out Turnbull or use him within the bullpen at first, that flexibility is bound to come in useful throughout his time with the membership.
