Better know your Blue Jays 40-man: Aaron Loup

I guess we pretty much know Aaron Loup. He was drafted by the Blue Jays in 2009, 9th round and has been a part of our bullpen since 2012.

Over the last 4 seasons, his ERA has jumped each year. In 2013 he had a 2.47 ERA. Since then 3.15, 4.46 and 5.02 (in just 14 innings) last year. I’m a bit worried about what the next number in this progression might be.

He seems to be giving up more hard contact each year. His line drive rate, in 2013, was 17.4%, since then 20.2, 21.6 and 32.5. He still gets lots of strikeouts: 24.7% in 2015 and 24.2% last year, and he doesn’t walk many 6.0% career.

He really should only face lefties, career he is .209/.276/.298 vs LHB, .270/.327/.428 vs RHP.

Aaron’s pitched in 3 games this spring, adding up to 2.1 innings. He’s allowed 2 hits, 2 walks, and has 3 strikeouts. He was brought into Sunday’s game to face one lefty, which would be his job if he makes the team.

He’s battling Jeff Beliveau, T.J. House, Matt Dermody, Chad Girodo and, maybe Tim Mayza (who seems to be getting talked up, after 3 scoreless spring innings with 4 strikeouts) for the job, and I really don’t know how I’d handicap the race at the moment. Of course, there is also the chance the team goes with just one lefty in the pen.

Loup has options left, so if he doesn’t get the second lefty job out of the pen, he’ll likely head to Buffalo to take his place waiting for the Buffalo/Toronto shuttle. I’m kind of expecting that will be his life again this year.

PECOTA has Loup down for 45 innings, which seems high to me, and a 4.00 ERA. ZiPS has him at 48 innings and a 3.94 ERA.