TORONTO – Matt Dominguez was recalled by the Blue Jays before Tuesday’s game against the Chicago White Sox, while Drew Hutchison, who made a spot start Sunday, was optioned to the triple-A Buffalo Bisons to create room on the active roster.
Dominguez, 26, opened the 2016 season with the Bisons, hitting .311/.333/.475 with two home runs in 17 games. An above-average defender at third base, Dominguez has also been playing first for the Bisons of late.
The suspension of Chris Colabello left the Blue Jays with a shortage of right-handed hitting bench pieces, and with the lefty-heavy White Sox in town, Dominguez emerged as a candidate to spell Justin Smoak at first base. Additional third base depth doesn’t hurt at a time that Josh Donaldson’s dealing with a sore leg.
Dominguez, the 12th overall selection of the 2007 draft, hit 21 home runs for the Astros in 2013 and 16 homers the following year before spending the 2015 season at triple-A. The Blue Jays claimed him off of waivers from the Brewers last September.
The move might have taken place a day earlier, but Hutchison had to clear optionable waivers before the Blue Jays could send him to the minors and replace him.
