Blue Jays Place Bo Bichette On Injured Checklist, Recall Orelvis Martinez

The Blue Jays introduced a sequence of roster strikes at the moment, with shortstop Bo Bichette positioned on the 10-day injured listing with a proper calf pressure, retroactive to June 15. Infielder Orelvis Martinez was recalled and will probably be making his main league debut as quickly as he will get right into a sport. In addition they made a bullpen swap, with left-hander Brandon Eisert optioned as right-hander Ryan Burr was recalled.

Bichette hasn’t performed since Friday as a consequence of this calf concern. The Jays didn’t place him on the IL instantly as they monitored the event of the harm, but it surely appears it didn’t heal up as hoped and the dedication was made to put him on the shelf. Because the transfer is backdated, he might be again in as quickly as every week’s time if he feels higher. Supervisor John Schneider says that’s certainly the hope, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet on X.

It’s been a tough season general for Bichette, who’s hitting simply .237/.286/.342 on the 12 months, a far cry from the .299/.340/.487 line he carried into the season. It’s doable that a few of that’s batted ball luck, as he had a .349 batting common on balls in play coming into the 12 months however has a .271 BABIP in 2024, however he additionally has simply 4 house runs this season and a 4.7% barrel charge that’s roughly half of the 9.2% charge he has for his whole profession.

He could have been turning issues round after a extremely tough begin, as he slashed .280/.321/.410 within the month of Could for a 108 wRC+. His numbers in June ticked down once more, although it’s doable that the calf had began nagging at him earlier than it really took him out of the lineup. Regardless, he’ll have no less than every week to relaxation up and take a breather.

His harm will enable Martinez to return as much as the majors for the primary time. Now 22 years outdated, he was a reasonably high-profile worldwide signing out of the Dominican Republic, securing a bonus of $3.51MM from the Jays in 2018. As he has climbed the minor league ladder, he has made good on that robust bonus by changing into a high 100 prospect, along with his house run energy standing out as his most fun device.

In 2021, he acquired into 98 video games between Single-A and Excessive-A, hitting 28 house runs in that point. He was promoted to Double-A in 2022 and there was a little bit of concern along with his early outcomes there. He struck out at a 28.5% clip and slashed simply .203/.286/.446 that 12 months. However the Jays nonetheless didn’t need him uncovered in that 12 months’s Rule 5 draft and added him to their 40-man roster.

He returned to Double-A to start out 2023 and the outcomes have been significantly better. He lower his strikeout charge to twenty.5% and in addition drew walks at an enormous 14% clip. He hit 17 house runs in 70 video games and slashed .226/.339/.485 for a wRC+ of 122. He was promoted to Triple-A in July of final 12 months and now has 118 video games for the Bisons beneath his belt with 27 house runs. His 25.4% strikeout charge in that point is a bit excessive however he’s additionally drawn walks at a 9.7% clip.

There may be some slight platoon concern, as Martinez has hit .321/.406/.661 in opposition to lefties this 12 months however simply .240/.324/.480 the remainder of the time, however he’s additionally nonetheless fairly younger and has proven a capability to regulate when challenged.

Protection can also be a little bit of query mark for Martinez. He spent a number of time at shortstop in earlier seasons however hasn’t performed there in 2024, largely lining up at second base with a little bit of time at third base additionally combined in. Regardless of the issues, Martinez has sufficient upside on the plate that he’s thought of one of many high prospects within the league. Baseball America at present lists him #54 general, FanGraphs #71 and MLB Pipeline #68. Coming into the season, Keith Law of The Athletic put him within the #57 spot, although Kiley McDaniel of ESPN didn’t have Martinez on his listing.

Since Martinez hasn’t been enjoying shortstop this 12 months, he gained’t be a direct alternative for Bichette. Isiah Kiner-Falefa has been holding down that spot with Bichette out of motion in latest days and can probably proceed in that function, with Ernie Clement and Addison Barger able to chipping in as nicely.

Martinez will probably be within the combine for some enjoying time at second and third alongside Clement, Barger, Davis Schneider and Spencer Horwitz. The membership has additionally experimented with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. getting a while at third and he might be within the combine there as nicely.

The Jays have been struggling to search out offense this 12 months and not too long ago lower each Daniel Vogelbach and Cavan Biggio from the roster, calling up Horwitz and Barger in an try to search out some additional runs. The recall of Martinez was extra motivated by Bichette’s harm however may maybe assist in that regard as nicely, although it’s doable it’s only a temporary keep on the roster if Bichette is certainly again rapidly.

The Jays are at present sporting a document of 35-37, not utterly buried within the standings however they’re 5 video games again of a playoff spot for the time being. They’re reportedly going to attend till after the All-Star break to resolve on how they strategy the July 30 deadline.

If the latest roster shakeup will help them climb within the standings, then maybe they will keep away from a summer season selloff. If not, the rumors on gamers nearing free company will develop louder. That’s notably true of Guerrero and Bichette, who’re every set to hit the open market after 2025. Although with Bichette struggling this 12 months and now injured as nicely, the Jays could have considerations about promoting low, compounded by the general public relations hit of promoting a participant who has been such a key a part of the franchise for years. That may make the approaching weeks very fascinating for the membership and Bichette, with the commerce deadline on July 30, six weeks from at the moment.