National Post (National Edition)
Mayza gets the big-league call
Left-hander earns promotion with strong work
No sooner had left-handed pitcher Tim Mayza arrived at his locker at the Rogers Centre on Monday afternoon when he was approached by a reporter.
“Let the guy get settled in,” said Toronto Blue Jays starter Marco Estrada, whose locker is situated right next to his newest teammate’s.
The Jays promoted the 25-year-old Mayza to the roster from Triple A Buffalo on Monday. In a connecting move, RHP Leonel Campos was optioned and RHP Taylor Cole was unconditionally released. In a season of numerous trips to the DL, Mayza is the latest prospect to get his first call to Toronto, and the Major Leagues.
The native of Allentown, Pa., certainly deserved the call. Mayza appeared in 11 games for the Bisons in 2017, recording a stellar 0.93 ERA. He registered 16 strikeouts against seven walks and did not surrender a home run. Prior to his stint in Buffalo, Mayza played in 29 contests for the double-A New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
The former high school basketball standout was travelling back to Buffalo from Toledo early Monday morning (around 1:30 a.m.) when he got a call on his cell from Bisons’ pitching coach Bob Stanley.
“Steamer called me and broke the news,” said Mayza, who immediately called his parents despite the hour. “I knew they were sleeping, but I had to wake them up and let them know that there was a possibility (he’d be going to the Jays).”
Surprisingly, Mayza said he had no problem getting to sleep before getting a drive to Toronto early in the afternoon on Monday.
“It’s definitely exciting,” said Mayza, as he greeted new and old teammates in the Jays’ clubhouse. “It’s definitely a lot to take in but like I said, I’m kind of going with the flow right now and see what happens.”
Jays manager John Gibbons likes what he’s seen and heard about the 2013 Jays’ 12th-round draft pick.
“He’s got a great arm. Lefthanded,” said the manager. “He was kind of on the map last year, and did some good things in spring training and has been pitching well lately. You’re always naturally looking for those good arms and him being left-handed so here it is.” Gibbons won’t hesitate to throw Mayza into the fire as the bullpen has been used extensively lately. As well, right-handed reliever Dominic Leone is on the bereavement list.
“I think just having more of a consistent slider,” said Mayza when asked what he had been working on this season. “I’m getting that consistency, being able to throw it whenever and wherever. That was a big help.”
Mayza could provide Gibbons with some length out of the bullpen, as he logged more than one inning pitched in eight of his appearances with the Bisons.
AROUND THE DIAMOND
Catcher Miguel Montero, who has been on the DL with a sore right groin, will play one or two games with the Bisons starting Tuesday night before returning to the Jays. Toronto is currently without their top three catchers: Russell Martin (left oblique strain), Luke Maile (right knee) and Montero. Their No.1 catcher right now is Raffy Lopez. He’s being backed up from Mike Ohlman. “Opportunity man,” said Gibbons when asked about his catching situation. “Guys are dying for those opportunities. Well, not really dying. Begging.” ... RHP Chris Smith has cleared waivers and been sent outright to Buffalo ... Gibbons, who won his 700th game as a manager on Sunday, is the 94th MLB manager to reach that plateau and is one of two active MLB managers to have 700-plus wins with the same team (12th alltime). Only Mike Scioscia with the Angels has more wins with one team (1,551) among active managers.
RUMOUR MILL
Estrada drew “virtually no interest” in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, reported FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, but the finesse pitcher has been at top form since then, making it likely someone will claim the impending free agent on revocable waivers this month, according to Rosenthal. Rosenthal reported the Jays placed Estrada on waivers Friday but he said they’re not bent on trading the 34-year-old unless a solid offer comes along.