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According to a tweet by Bob Elliott, the Blue Jays are considering recalling International League superstar Matt Hague from triple-A Buffalo for the upcoming series against the Phillies. A spot on the 25-man roster was created when Aaron Loup was optioned following Sunday's game.
Hearing Jays leaning towards corner INF-PH Matt Hague from triple-A Buffalo to replace RP Aaron Loup for Philly series #Jays
— bob elliott (@elliottbaseball) August 17, 2015
Hague, affectionately known as MattVP by Bisons fans, has been the International League's best hitter ever since Chris Colabello was called up. He is hitting .348/.427/482 for a 169 wRC+ with the BIsons this year, having cut his strikeout rate substantially (his .378 BABIP doesn't hurt either). Hague leads the league in average, on base, hits, RBIs, BABIP, and is second in slugging (just .001 from the lead), second in walks, third in doubles. He also seemingly has this knack of getting a clutch hit when the Bisons needed him to come through.
The 29-year-old had a couple of cups of coffee with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2012 and 2014 after being drafted by them in the 9th round of the 2008 draft. He was picked up on waivers a year ago tomorrow and has been playing for Buffalo ever since, splitting his time between third and first base. He is not a fantastic fielder at third but is tolerable. He rakes lefties, this year hitting .394/.480/.577 against them. He already has a spot on the 40-man roster.
Hague is like a slightly younger, more inexperienced, less proven, but, most importantly less expensive, version of Danny Valencia who doesn't play the outfield (to be fair, neither does Valencia). He has the sort of bat that would be useful off the bench in this upcoming series against the Phillies, where National League rules are in play. Dalton Pompey has been hurt with a rolled ankle and the plan might be for him to swap places with Hague after this series.
John Lott wrote a fantastic profile of Hague a few weeks back when it didn't look like he was going to get the call.
According to Bluebird Banter's Blue Jays Option and Outright Status Table, Hague is on his last option year in 2015 which means he can be sent back to Buffalo, but he will need to go through optional waivers.