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Blue Jays invite Andrew Bash and two others to Spring Training
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Photo credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Ryley Delaney
Feb 7, 2025, 15:15 ESTUpdated: Feb 7, 2025, 15:12 EST
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The Toronto Blue Jays invited a few other players to Spring Training.
On Friday afternoon, the team announced that they’ve invited right-handed pitcher Andrew Bash and catchers Matt Whatley and Robert Brooks to Spring Training.
It was surprising when Bash wasn’t invited the first time around. Last season with the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons, he posted a 2.97 ERA and a 4 FIP in 78.2 innings pitched, with a 21.8 K% and a 10.6 BB%. In 2023, the 28-year-old pitched between Double-A and Triple-A where he had a 2.52 ERA and a 4.52 FIP in 89.1 innings pitched with a 21.5 K% and a 12.6 BB%. Even in 2022, he had solid results, posting a 4.23 ERA and a 4.10 FIP in 95.2 innings pitched.
Since the start of the 2022 season, Bash’s 265.1 innings pitched is the fifth most in the Blue Jays organization behind Chad Dallas, Rafael Sánchez, Michael Dominguez, and Paxton Schultz. The thing is, he’s primarily used as a bulk reliever, starting 16 games of 28 appearances last season, 16 of 27 in 2023, and 11 of 36 in 2022. If Bash does well to start the 2025 season, there’s a chance he can fill in as a spot starter for the Blue Jays if there are injuries.
The catching spot is arguably the most intriguing part of the Blue Jays depth. Alejandro Kirk will get the bulk of starts but the backup catcher is anyone’s game. Right now, it seems as if Tyler Heineman has a leg up on the other catchers.
However, the Blue Jays added Ali Sánchez, Christian Bethancourt, and now Matt Whatley, who signed a minor-league deal with the team on Wednesday. Whatley, 29, has never appeared in a big league game and slashed .199/.294/.319 with five home runs in 164 plate appearances with the Texas Rangers’ Triple-A team. He’s a defence first catcher, throwing out eight of 30 runners last season and 26 of 68 runners in 2023.
Brooks signed with the Blue Jays in early June on a minor-league deal. He played a part in helping the High-A Vancouver Canadians make their third consecutive Northwest Championship Series, as he slashed .262/.340/.476 with four home runs in 97. However, he was called up to Double-A in late July and slashed .203/.299/.339 with two home runs in 67 plate appearances with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
We’re less than a week before pitchers and catchers report. The Blue Jays can never have too many of either.
As always, you can follow me on Bluesky @ryleydelaney.bsky.social.

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