Trent Thornton will replace Ryan Borucki in the starting rotation

The Jays were spanked by a bevy of injuries to their pitchers in the final few days of spring training that made both the starting rotation and bullpen on Opening Day unclear. We got some clarity today, though, as Trent Thornton has been named to the starting rotation in place of the injured Ryan Borucki.

I had figured that Sam “Sammy G” Gaviglio was going to be Borucki’s replacement given the fact he spent most of last season in Toronto’s rotation, but the team seems to like him more in a long relief role. Thomas Pannone, who will start tonight’s exhibition game in Montreal, was also in that conversation. I imagine he’s still in the discussion for the team’s bullpen because Tim Mayza is the only lefty currently guaranteed a spot.

Thornton, who was acquired in the off-season from the Astros in the Aledmys Diaz deal, has never made a start at the Major League level. He made 22 starts last year in Triple-A, posting a 4.42 ERA while striking out 8.8 and walking 2.2 batters per nine. When Borucki returns, Thornton will likely head down to Buffalo to join the Bisons’ rotation.

There’s also Clay Buchholz who, as Mike Wilner said above, will be in the mix in mid-April, assuming all goes according to plan. When he returns, that would shove Clayton Richard back into the bullpen as the team’s long guy, I assume.