Blue Jays summon Bolsinger to start on Tuesday

The Toronto Blue Jays have called up 29-year-old right-hander Brian Bolsinger from triple-A to start Tuesday night's game against the Cleveland Indians. Photo Credit: milb.com

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

With J.A. Happ unable to answer the bell due to a recent bout of inflammation in his left elbow, Aaron Sanchez scheduled to make an appearance in extended spring training and Mat Latos having been outrighted to the International League, the Toronto Blue Jays were forced to dip back into the minor leagues in order to produce right-handed hurler Mike Bolsinger, who will take the hill for Tuesday night’s tilt against the Cleveland Indians at Rogers Centre.

Bolsinger, 29, has appeared in four games with triple-A Buffalo in 2017, pitching to an ERA of 1.46 with 18 strikeouts against only three walks over 12 1/3 innings of work.

Acquired by the Blue Jays in a deal that sent Jesse Chavez to the Los Angeles Dodgers at the non-waiver trade deadline last July, the 6-foot-1 Chicago native has appeared in 37 big league games since breaking in with the Dodgers in 2014. All but one of those appearances have come as a starter.

Needing to clear a spot on both the Jays' 25 and 40-man rosters, fellow righty Neil Ramirez was designated for assignment on Tuesday. 

In a sense, Bolsinger's activation is a microcosm of how the Blue Jays' campaign has gone to date, as the former 34th-round draft pick of (ironically) the Cleveland Indians will become the ninth starter used by Toronto this season. For context, the club used only seven in 2016. 

Although a hard timeline has yet to be established, Happ continues progressing towards a return to the active roster. On Monday, the former 20-game winner threw from 90 feet for the first time since being lifted in the fifth inning of his third start on April 16th.

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