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Blue Jays: Recently DFA’ed Paxton Schultz caught up in the numbers game
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Photo credit: © Jesse Johnson-Imagn Images
Ryley Delaney
Jan 6, 2026, 07:00 ESTUpdated: Jan 5, 2026, 20:51 EST
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As a team adds in the off-season, deserving players often find themselves designated for assignment.
That is the case for the Toronto Blue Jays and Paxton Schultz. With the addition of Kazuma Okamoto, the Blue Jays needed to make room on their 40-man roster, choosing to DFA the right-handed pitcher.
Schultz served as an AAAA pitcher in 2025, earning five separate recalls from the Triple-A Buffalo Bisons once he was added to the 40-man roster on Apr. 20. The right-handed pitcher appeared in 13 games with the Jays, authoring a 4.38 ERA and 4.07 FIP in 24.2 innings pitched, with a 25.5 K% and 7.3 BB%.
His most memorable appearance in his big league tenure was his debut, as he struck out eight in four and one-third innings pitched. This matched the Major League Baseball record for most strikeouts from a reliever making their big league debut.
There’s a possibility that Schultz is claimed on waivers. His fastball sits a tick under 94 mph, with a cutter, changeup, and slider as his secondary pitches. Schultz had a 27.4 whiff% in 2025, while also doing a good job avoiding giving up free passes.
Originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 14th round of the 2019 draft, Schultz was acquired as a player to be named later in the Derek Fisher trade (the second trade). Beginning his career as a starter, Schultz eventually moved to a bulk relief role in 2024 with the Bisons before earning a call up.
Last season with the Bisons, the 28-year-old had a 3.31 ERA and 3.99 FIP in 49 innings pitched, making one start in 25 appearances, along with a 23.6 K% and 8.7 BB%.
Time will tell whether Schultz will remain in the Blue Jays’ system next season, but he may not be the last player to be designated for assignment depending on what else the Blue Jays do this off-season.
Ryley Delaney is a Nation Network writer for Blue Jays Nation, Oilersnation, and FlamesNation. She can be followed on Twitter @Ryley__Delaney.

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