:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69222981/1313564551.0.jpg)
Minutes before Sunday afternoon’s game, the Blue Jays announced six roster moves:
- Catcher Alejandro Kirk placed on the 10-day injured list with a left flexor strain
- Pitcher Anthony Castro placed on the 10-day IL with right forearm strain
- Pitcher Tommy Milone placed on the 10-day IL with left shoulder inflammation
- Catcher Riley Adams recalled
- Pitcher Anthony Kay recalled
- Pitcher Ross Stripling, who had right flexor strain, activated from the 10-day IL .
We saw clear signs of discomfort from Kirk in Saturday night’s game against Atlanta, with him running gingerly after a long foul ball and being checked out by Blue Jays training staff shortly thereafter. Later in the game, Kirk was pulled out of the game in favour of Danny Jansen so his placement on the IL was not unexpected.
Replacing Kirk on the roster is rookie and potential Catcher of the Future™ Riley Adams, who will wear #50. The last Blue Jays player to wear that number was Justin Shafer in 2019. Adams is 24 and reportedly hit well at alternate camp in 2020, with Baseball America anointing him as the Best Power Hitter among the organization’s prospects.
What was a surprise was Anthony Castro’s placement on the IL. Despite having been through outright waivers twice this offseason, he has been one of the best performers out of an already strong-performing Blue Jays bullpen so far in 2021. Over six appearances, Castro had yet to give up a run and have struck out nine while walking out just one with a slider that has been generating high whiffs.
Tommy Milone did not look good in his Saturday outing. Today, his left shoulder is reported to be inflamed. Correlation or causation? And if causation, which is the cause and which is the effect? I leave it to you, dear reader, to decide.
Stripling, who had two disappointing starts earlier this season, has been activated in time to re-join the starting rotation for today’s game. And Anthony Kay has been saved a trip to triple-A Trenton, being recalled to provide some length to the Jays’ bullpen.