Blue Jays make roster moves ahead of series finale

BALTIMORE – The Toronto Blue Jays recalled catcher Gabriel Moreno and right-hander Zach Pop from triple-A Buffalo on Wednesday and placed outfielder Teoscar Hernandez on the paternity list.

The team also optioned Mitch White to the Bisons after the right-hander lasted just 2 1/3 innings in a 9-6 loss in Baltimore on Tuesday.

White was 0-4 with an 8.17 earned-run average over six starts with Toronto after he was acquired in an Aug. 2 trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Hernandez, who’s hitting .263 with 20 homers and 64 RBIs, was replaced by Matt Chapman in the No. 5 spot in the batting order for the finale of a four-game series against the Orioles on Wednesday night.

Moreno, one of the Blue Jays’ top prospects, made his big-league debut last June. He spent about a month with the team, primarily in a backup role behind all-star Alejandro Kirk, while Danny Jansen was out with a finger injury.

Moreno posted a .315 average with three homers and 39 RBIs over 62 games with Buffalo this season.

Pop, meanwhile, is 2-0 with a 3.25 ERA over 26 relief appearances with Toronto and Miami this year. He was acquired in an Aug. 2 trade with the Marlins.

Earlier in the day, the Pittsburgh Pirates claimed backup catcher Zack Collins off waivers. The 27-year-old was designated for assignment by the Blue Jays on Monday.

Collins was acquired by Toronto in a trade with the White Sox that sent catcher Reese McGuire to Chicago on April 3.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 7, 2022.

by The Canadian Press