Better know your Blue Jays 40-man: Julian Merryweather

Julian Merryweather came to the Blue Jays in the Josh Donaldson trade. For that reason alone, I’m expecting he gets every chance to help the team. And since he’s coming off Tommy John surgery, back in March of last year. So he can go onto the 60-day DL at the end of spring. The roster spot will come in handy.

Merryweather is 27 and hasn’t pitched in the majors. That’s not a ringing endorsement of his ability. But then, he lost all of last year after the Tommy John and likely was dealing with arm issues the season before.

He was a 5th round draft pick in 2014. He was kind of averagish in A ball in 2014 and 2015. 2016 went much better. He had a 2.60 ERA in 135 innings split between High A and AA. He gave up 32 walks and had 119 strikeouts. 2017 wasn’t good, he had a 5.32 ERA in 25 starts, split between Double and Triple A. In 128.2 innings, he allowed 142 hits, 35 walks and 128 strikeouts.

Julian throws hard (or he did before the surgery). Baseball America says his fastball sits in the mid-90s and can reach 97. He has a curve, slider and a changeup. He’s a big guy, 6’4”, and gets good downward motion on his pitches.

So what happens this year?

I would think he starts the year on the 60-day DL, works out in Dunedin. If things go well he could go for a rehab assignment. And see from there. Maybe he could be a September call up.

In the long run, the team would like him to be a starter. But, if it doesn’t work out he throws hard enough to work out of the pen.