As per Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, according to industry sources, the Toronto Blue Jays have hired Justin Lehr in a role that will oversee the organization’s minor league pitching. The exact title of his position is not yet known at this time.

A former eighth-round pick of the Oakland A’s in 1999, Lehr made 77 appearances at the big league level for the Athletics, Milwaukee Brewers, and the Cincinnati Reds. Through 148 1/3 innings, the right-hander posted a 5.64 ERA while allowing 88 earned runs and 67 walks compared to a 5.1 K/9.

While floating between the rotation and the bullpen throughout his career, Lehr’s best game came on August 5, 2009, against the Chicago Cubs, as the Reds starter pitched a complete game shutout. He allowed just four hits and one walk in the 4-0 win while striking out four. This would be Lehr’s last season in the big leagues. The veteran hurler also spent time in the Korean Baseball Organization with the Doosan Bears.

Most recently, Lehr was working for the San Francisco Giants as a pitching coordinator in the player development sector, working with the younger pitchers within the Giants organization. He has been in the role since 2020.

Before being the Giants’ pitching coordinator, Lehr worked for the Giants as their rehab pitching coordinator after working as an amateur scout for the Kansas City Royals organization. Following his playing career, Lehr was a professional scout for the Houston Astros until 2014 before joining the Royals.

The addition of Lehr comes on the heels of multiple roster changes to the Blue Jays coaching staff, highlighted by the firing of hitting coach Guillermo Martinez. The club also let go of multiple minor league coaches and staff towards the end of the 2024 season, including minor league pitching coordinator Cory Popham, position coach (Buffalo) Justin Echevarria, position coach (New Hampshire) George Carroll, pitching coach (FCL) Brendan Kelly, and hitting coach (FCL) Fred Landers.