Lebby has ‘definitely opened up some eyes’

Park, left-handed pitcher Ryan Borucki had a masterful outing against the Tampa Bay Rays, not giving up a hit or run in two innings, walking one and striking out one.

A few days later at Dunedin Stadium against the Minnesota Twins, the 23-year-old pitched 1 1/3 innings, giving up five hits (one a home run) and five runs while walking one.

Gibbons later told Borucki, one of the organization’s most promising young pitchers, not to sweat his second appearance.

“It’s the same thing I told (Sean) Reid-Foley: You’re getting ready for the season. I know you want to impress us here, you’re one of our top (prospects), but it’s still spring training for a reason and sometimes an outing like that can do you some good,” Gibbons said.

“He’s got a great arm, he’s going to be good, but you still got to pitch. Nobody throws hard enough if they’re not locating the ball and falling behind, so that’s not going to hurt him.”

Borucki pitched 150 1/3 innings in three levels in the minors last year and recorded a 2.93 ERA with 157 strikeouts. Several baseball websites suggested before the Jays went out and signed veteran lefty Jaime Garcia that Borucki could be the club’s fifth starter this season.

Barring an injury, he’ll likely play the entire year in Buffalo.

Gibbons said fans can expect to see Josh Donaldson and Justin Smoak get more DH appearances this season in an effort to keep them fresh. He also figures new infielder Yangervis Solarte will see time at designated hitter.

“That’s one of the reasons we got him, because he can hit,” Gibbons said. “We have to figure out how to get him in the lineup as much as possible.”

Smoak had a breakout season last year, playing in a career-high 158 games, but admitted that late in the year he felt pretty banged up.

Gibbons said he had to run Smoak out most every day last year because the Jays were fighting for months to get back into the playoff race. For now, Kendrys Morales is the club’s everyday DH.

The Jays designated Ezequiel Carrera for assignment last weekend to make room on the 40-man roster for recently signed reliever Seung-hwan Oh. He is back in camp after passing through waivers and being outrighted to Buffalo, though his future is up in the air as it appears as though Toronto’s four outfielders are set — Kevin Pillar, Randal Grichuk, Curtis Granderson and Steve Pearce.