Jansen, Reid-Foley get the call
Catcher asks of dugout news: ‘Is this really happening right now?’
Sean Reid-Foley got the news Saturday afternoon, when he was called into the office of Buffalo Bisons manager Bobby Meacham for a chat with the skipper and pitching coach, Bob Stanley.
It came a few hours later for Danny Jansen, who was pulled in the ninth inning of the Bisons’ loss to the Toledo Mud Hens on Saturday night. He was due up that inning when the call was made to the dugout phone.
“I was like, “Is this really happening right now? I started hugging my teammates, that’s when Meach came back and he told me,” Jansen said. “He said, ‘Kid, you’re going to the big leagues, I don’t want to see you again.’ That’s what he said. It was awesome.” The messages were long dreamed-about call-ups to the major leagues for the 22-yearold right-hander and the 23year-old catcher. Both players joined the team in Toronto on Sunday and will make their debuts during a visit to Kansas City, according to manager John Gibbons.
The Jays will option reliever Danny Barnes to Triple-A to make room for Reid-Foley, the organization’s No. 10 prospect, on the 25-man roster. The club will need to make another move before he takes the mound, to open a spot for him on the 40man roster.
Jansen, the No. 3 prospect, was added to the 25-man list on Sunday after Jays third baseman Yangervis Solarte was placed on the disabled list with a right oblique injury. He is already on the 40-man,
Reid-Foley said that while all the Jays catchers are “awe- some” — Russell Martin, Luke Maile and now Jansen — he admitted it would be nice to see a familiar face behind the plate.
As of Sunday, nine of the 25 players on the roster started their seasons in earnest with the Bisons. When Jansen arrived in the city on Saturday night, the first thing he did was meet up with his best friend, left-hander Ryan Borucki, lefty Thomas Pannone and Reid-Foley. Pannone made his debut earlier this week.
“It means a lot that these guys are here,” Jansen said. “Hopefully I can be with those guys and get to work with them and make it a little easier for me, especially because I know those guys so well and I know that they know me so well, so there will be a little bit of comfort there”
Reid-Foley and Jansen will both have the backing of family members when they arrive in Missouri for a four-game series. Reid-Foley expects his dad to be there for his first start,with his mom and sister missing out because they’re vacationing in Ireland.
Jansen’s family will also be in attendance, with the series of particular convenience to his brother, who lives in Kansas City.
It was delivering the news to his loved ones when the call-up really hit home for Jansen.
“It’s like something I’ve never felt before, it was an amazing feeling,” he said. “It really sunk in when I called my parents and got to talk to them, some tears came out. Everyone’s happy, everyone’s excited about it.”
Reid-Foley started the year with Double-A New Hampshire before he was promoted to the Bisons in late May. He was 7-4 with a 3.50 ERA in 15 starts in Triple-A.
Jansen has spent the season with the Bisons, slashing .275/ .390/.473. He was one of two players to represent the Jays at the Futures Game during the all-star break, where he hit a two-run homer for Team USA.
Jays manager John Gibbons said he figured it was just a matter of time before space opened up for the addition of Reid-Foley and Jansen. He’s not sure what to expect of the pitcher in his debut, but Gibbons does expect the catcher to play “a lot” in the coming days.
“It’s a nice reward, they earn those things,” he said.
“These guys that are your top dogs, it excites everybody to see them.”
Series preview: Blue Jays at Royals KAUFFMAN STADIUM
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PROBABLES
Monday, 8:15 p.m. RH Sean Reid-Foley (MLB debut) vs. RH Brad Keller (4-5, 3.57) Tuesday, 8:15 p.m. LH Ryan Borucki (2-2, 2.81) vs. RH Heath Fillmyer (1-1, 3.13) Wednesday, 8:15 p.m. RH Marco Estrada (5-9, 4.84) vs. RH Burch Smith (1-4, 6.97) Thursday, 8:15 p.m. RH Sam Gaviglio (2-5, 4.86) vs. LH Danny Duffy (7-11, 4.90)
KEY PLAYERS
Perez/Jansen It will be the veteran versus the rookie behind the dish in Kansas City, with the Royals’ Salvador Perez, who has eight years under his belt, up against Danny Jansen, who was called up on Sunday. Perez leads the Royals with 19 home runs and 55 RBIs and has caught 51 per cent of runners trying to steal against him, a career best. Jansen had a careerhigh 12 home runs and 58 RBIs with Triple-A Buffalo.
NEED TO KNOW
Sean Reid-Foley, 12-4 with a 2.98 ERA at two minor-league levels this season, will become the 30th pitcher to appear for the Jays this year … Royals manager Ned Yost told reporters in Kansas City that Thursday’s probable starter, Danny Duffy, may have to skip his next outing as he deals with shoulder soreness. Duffy had an anti-inflammatory shot and could be pushed back a couple of days … Royals reliever Blaine Boyer, who has been out with a lowerback strain since late May, was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list on Sunday.
ON DECK
Three games at the New York Yankees, starting Friday.