GDB 87.0: Leo Jimenez makes MLB debut for Blue Jays
By Zach Laing
3 days agoToronto Blue Jays prospect Leo Jimenez is set to make his MLB debut Wednesday.
The fifth-ranked prospect in the Jays system, Jimenez was called up to the big leagues Tuesday when Isiah-Kiner Falefa went down with a knee injury. And on Thursday, Bo Bichette was made a late scratch ahead of the Blue Jays’ final game of their four-game set against the Houston Astros.
Bichette was removed from the lineup with what the team is calling a right forearm contusion after being hit in his last at-bat during Wednesday’s game.
For Jimenez, meanwhile, his debut is a longtime coming. Signed as an international free agent in July 2017, the 23-year-old has worked his way up the minor league ranks from playing in the rookie league at 17 years old to slashing .271/.416/.431 for a .847 OPS with AAA Buffalo this season.
Following Thursday’s game, the Jays will head to Seattle for a three-game set against the Mariners, before continuing a road trip against the San Francisco Giants and Arizona Diamondbacks ahead of the All-Star game.
First pitch: 1:05 p.m. EST.
TV & Radio: Sportsnet, SN590.
Starting pitchers:
| Name | Team | GS
| W
| L
| IP
| ERA
| xERA
| ERA-
| FIP
| WHIP
| K/9
| BB/9
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Bassitt | TOR | 17 | 7 | 6 | 97.1 | 3.24 | 4.12 | 82 | 3.71 | 1.37 | 8.41 | 3.42 |
| Framber Valdez | HOU | 14 | 6 | 5 | 85.1 | 4.11 | 4.03 | 104 | 3.98 | 1.29 | 7.17 | 3.06 |
Lineups:
BLUE JAYS:
- G Springer (R) RF
- D Jansen (R) DH
- V Guerrero Jr. (R) 1B
- D Schneider (R) LF
- S Horwitz (L) 2B
- A Kirk (R) C
- E Clement (R) 3B
- L Jimenez (R) SS
- K Kiermaier (L) CF
ASTROS:
- J Altuve (R) 2B
- A Bregman (R) 3B
- Y Alvarez (L) DH
- Y Diaz (R) C
- J Singleton (L) 1B
- J Peña (R) SS
- J Loperfido (L) LF
- M Dubón (R) CF
- T Cabbage (L) RF
Need to bide the time until first pitch?
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Zach Laing is the Nation Network’s news director and senior columnist. He can be followed on Twitter at @zjlaing, or reached by email at zach@thenationnetwork.com.
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