Chad Green inching closer to Blue Jays debut following latest triple-A rehab outing

The Toronto Blue Jays should soon have another talented arm to add to their already shutdown bullpen ahead of the upcoming stretch run.

Chad Green, recovering from Tommy John surgery, worked a scoreless sixth inning in his seventh rehab appearance (10th total) with triple-A Buffalo on Saturday against the Syracuse Mets. He threw 15 pitches, 10 strikes, allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out one.

The most notable takeaway from the 32-year-old’s latest outing was his four-seamer, which averaged 94.9 m.p.h. – a few tics up from his 2022 average velocity (94.6). It has sat in the 94-96 m.p.h. range post-surgery this season.

Green’s curveball was also on display again, inducing two swinging strikes on three swings, likely benefiting from his slight uptick in velocity.

The veteran righty began his night by retiring the leadoff hitter via a first-pitch flyout before striking out the next for the second out of the sixth. But a pair of New York Mets top prospects, Ronny Mauricio and Brett Baty, reached base through a hard-hit single and a walk, only to be left stranded by an inning-ending popout.

The long-time New York Yankees reliever has surrendered just two earned runs – both of which came on a home run during his previous appearance on Aug. 22 – across 10 minor-league outings with the Blue Jays organization. He has punched out 13 of his 41 batters faced (31.7%), allowing only nine hits and one walk.

Green, signed to a complex two-year deal worth $8.5 million last winter, is scheduled to pitch on consecutive days for the first time in 2023 on Sunday. If all goes well, chances are he will be added to Toronto’s 40 and 26-man rosters when they expand to 28 on Sep. 1.