DUNEDIN, Fla. — As rain kept pouring at Dunedin Stadium Tuesday morning, Blue Jays decision makers reshuffled the week’s pitching plans to make up for their cancelled Grapefruit League game against the Boston Red Sox.
Matt Shoemaker, who had been scheduled to start against the defending World Series champions, will instead make his spring debut in Bradenton, Fla. against the Pirates Wednesday. Ryan Borucki follows at home against the Phillies Thursday, and fellow left-hander Thomas Pannone could pitch later in that game, too.
Then, on Friday, Aaron Sanchez will make his 2019 debut in Dunedin against the visiting Pirates. When he does, the Blue Jays hope to see flashes of the pitcher who led the league in ERA three years ago thanks to a hard-breaking two-seam fastball that can reach 97 m.p.h.
“With movement,” manager Charlie Montoyo added. “And huge breaking pitches. I call that nasty. It was easy to coach third base when I was there. You didn’t do much. I’m hoping third base coaches around the league feel the same way this year when he’s pitching.”
Sanchez says he has regained feel for his pitches after a difficult season that included a stint on the injured list, which was required because he got his right index finger stuck in a suitcase. The year ended with surgery on a ligament in the same finger, but he has since expressed optimism that those issues are behind him. In theory, better feel would now allow for better command and a return to form from the 26-year-old, who pitched 192 innings three years ago.
“I’m hoping he’s one of our horses,” Montoyo said. “He’s done it before. That’s what I’m really hoping for and right now he looks pretty healthy, so I’m excited to see him pitch.”
Meanwhile, Sean Reid-Foley will travel to Orlando Friday as the Blue Jays play the Braves in the other half of a split-squad day. Montoyo will be among those making the trip to watch Reid-Foley, whose big-league results haven’t yet matched the stuff that makes him one of the Blue Jays’ top pitching prospects.
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