Jake Bloss delivered another encouraging performance with triple-A Buffalo on Friday, retiring 12 of his 14 batters faced against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders &#8212; the New York Yankees&#8217; affiliate. 
The 23-year-old right-hander tossed four scoreless innings versus the RailRiders, allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out a trio of batters, inducing three whiffs on 24 swings. He threw 56 pitches (35 strikes) before departing after the bottom of the fourth inning.
It was a fastball-heavy night for Bloss, who used his four-seamer nearly half the time, averaging 93.9 m.p.h. and topping out at 95.5. He recorded two of his three punchouts via his heater, with his slider responsible for the other.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Only 2 base runners reached safely against Jake Bloss in his 2nd AAA start tonight. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a>
4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K &amp; 56 pitches (35 strikes)
Threw nearly 50% FBs, averaging 93.9 mph (95.5 max). <a href="https://t.co/RICufBULml">pic.twitter.com/RICufBULml</a>
— Thomas Hall (@Hall_Thomas_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hall_Thomas_/status/1824591963225764180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
The only two base runners to reach safely against Bloss came in the second inning, putting traffic on first and second base to begin the frame. But he worked out of trouble, retiring each of the next three batters to preserve a scoreless tie.
Bloss completed just 2.2 innings in his Bisons debut on Aug. 10, surrendering three hits and a walk without giving up a run, striking out a pair on 50 pitches. He&#8217;s worked 6.2 shutout frames since being acquired in a package &#8212; that included Joey Loperfido and Will Wagner &#8212; from the Houston Astros in last month&#8217;s Yusei Kikuchi trade.
The 6-foot-3 righty has risen through the minors quickly since being selected in the third round of last year&#8217;s draft. He hadn&#8217;t pitched above single-A prior to this season. But, with his rapid accession, he&#8217;s appeared at three separate levels (high-A, double-A, triple-A) and completed a trio of big-league starts due to the Astros&#8217; wide-spread pitching injuries.
In those three outings, Bloss was tagged for nine runs (all earned) on 16 hits &#8212; including five home runs &#8212; and three walks while punching out 11 across 11.2 innings. His last major league start occurred on July 23 versus the Oakland Athletics.
Though the Blue Jays appear to be managing Bloss&#8217; workload, there&#8217;s a strong chance he&#8217;ll return to the big leagues before this season&#8217;s end, becoming the third and final piece of the Kikuchi package to debut in the majors with his new team.

Jake Bloss delivered another encouraging performance with triple-A Buffalo on Friday, retiring 12 of his 14 batters faced against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders -- the New York Yankees' affiliate. 

The 23-year-old right-hander tossed four scoreless innings versus the RailRiders, allowing just a hit and a walk while striking out a trio of batters, inducing three whiffs on 24 swings. He threw 56 pitches (35 strikes) before departing after the bottom of the fourth inning.

It was a fastball-heavy night for Bloss, who used his four-seamer nearly half the time, averaging 93.9 m.p.h. and topping out at 95.5. He recorded two of his three punchouts via his heater, with his slider responsible for the other.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Only 2 base runners reached safely against Jake Bloss in his 2nd AAA start tonight. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BlueJays?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BlueJays</a>

4.0 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 3 K &amp; 56 pitches (35 strikes)

Threw nearly 50% FBs, averaging 93.9 mph (95.5 max). <a href="https://t.co/RICufBULml">pic.twitter.com/RICufBULml</a>
— Thomas Hall (@Hall_Thomas_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Hall_Thomas_/status/1824591963225764180?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 16, 2024</a></blockquote>
The only two base runners to reach safely against Bloss came in the second inning, putting traffic on first and second base to begin the frame. But he worked out of trouble, retiring each of the next three batters to preserve a scoreless tie.

Bloss completed just 2.2 innings in his Bisons debut on Aug. 10, surrendering three hits and a walk without giving up a run, striking out a pair on 50 pitches. He's worked 6.2 shutout frames since being acquired in a package -- that included Joey Loperfido and Will Wagner -- from the Houston Astros in last month's Yusei Kikuchi trade.

The 6-foot-3 righty has risen through the minors quickly since being selected in the third round of last year's draft. He hadn't pitched above single-A prior to this season. But, with his rapid accession, he's appeared at three separate levels (high-A, double-A, triple-A) and completed a trio of big-league starts due to the Astros' wide-spread pitching injuries.

In those three outings, Bloss was tagged for nine runs (all earned) on 16 hits -- including five home runs -- and three walks while punching out 11 across 11.2 innings. His last major league start occurred on July 23 versus the Oakland Athletics.

Though the Blue Jays appear to be managing Bloss' workload, there's a strong chance he'll return to the big leagues before this season's end, becoming the third and final piece of the Kikuchi package to debut in the majors with his new team.

Jake Bloss throws four scoreless innings in second start with Bisons

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