The Toronto Blue Jays have made another waiver claim, this time selecting corner infielder Matt Hague from the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 28-year-old has been assigned to Toronto’s top affiliate, the triple-A Buffalo Bisons.
Hague has 33 games of big league experience, but has spent the entire 2014 season playing for Pittsburgh’s triple-A affiliate. In 93 games with Indianapolis, the right-handed hitter has 14 home runs and a .267/.365/.448 batting line. He has historically hit minor league pitching well and was named International League MVP in 2011 when he batted .309 with an .829 OPS in 141 games with Indianapolis.
Selected by the Pirates in the ninth round of the 2008 draft, Hague debuted in 2012 and returned to Pittsburgh for three more games two years later. In 76 career plate appearances against big league pitching, he has a .513 OPS.
While the Blue Jays list Hague as a first baseman and the bulk of his professional experience comes at first, he has also appeared in 169 minor league games at third.
Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos has already claimed several players on waivers this season, including Nolan Reimold, Liam Hendriks, Darin Mastroianni and Brad Mills.
