The Toronto Blue Jays will have relievers Wes Parsons, Nate Pearson and Mitch White on the roster for Opening Day.
Veteran pitchers Jordan Romano, Erik Swanson and Alek Manoah will begin the season on the injured list, manager John Schneider said Wednesday.
"They're still throwing and kind of building up," Schneider said of Romano and Swanson, adding there was no set date for either to throw off a mound. "Nothing really new to report for those two guys."
Speaking to Sportsnet's Hazel Mae, Parsons, 31, said he was emotional to hear that he was on the Opening Day roster. It is just the second time in his career that he will start the season in the major leagues after making the Opening Day roster in 2019 with the Atlanta Braves.
The Blue Jays signed Parsons to a minor-league contract back in May 2023 after he spent two seasons in South Korea. He made one appearance last season and had a 4.22 ERA and eight strikeouts in 10.2 innings during spring training.
Pearson, 27, appeared in eight games during spring training and had a 6.52 ERA and 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings. The former top pitching prospect has been working a splitter into his repertoire in camp as a complement to his premium fastball.
White will add some length to the bullpen after posting a 4.50 ERA in six appearances this spring.
With White, Parsons and Pearson on the team, Zach Pop and Yariel Rodriguez have been optioned to triple-A Buffalo.
The Blue Jays begin the season on Thursday afternoon in Tampa Bay against the Rays.
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