Gibbons looking forward to return of closer
With closer Roberto Osuna due to make his next court appearance in Toronto on Monday and his 75-game suspension just four weeks from ending, Jays manager John Gibbons is looking forward to the return of the young pitcher.
While respectful of the legal proceedings and the alleged victim, Gibbons said on Saturday he hopes his star closer will be able to return and that the situation is resolved to the satisfaction of all parties.
“I’ll be glad to see him,” Gibbons said. “I’m very disappointed with what happened, but I love the kid.
“I hope he turns his life around.”
Gibbons said that when Osuna does return — he’s eligible to rejoin the lineup on Aug. 5 for a game in Seattle — he will resume his role as the Jays closer when he’s ready.
“If he comes back and he’s on our team, he’ll eventually be our closer again,” Gibbons said. “I’m not going to punish him.”
Osuna, who was charged with the assault of a woman in Toronto on May 8, is expected to be in attendance in a Toronto courtroom for the next step in the proceedings.
He’ll be eligible for a rehab stint to get back in game shape beginning Saturday.
The conditioning stint could technically take place with any of the Jays minor league teams, but it’s expected Osuna will spend the bulk of it in Florida.
Growing up, J.A. Happ was an avid collector of baseball cards, but he especially had affinity for those of an all-star variety.
Now the 35-year-old lefthander will have an all-star card of his own, as he was named the lone Blue Jays representative for next week’s midsummer classic.
“Really, there’s no other way to describe it than it’s a dream come true,” Happ said following the Blue Jays 2-1, 10-inning loss to the Yankees on Sunday. “It’s kind of a surreal moment today when I found out.
“I was certainly hoping there was a chance, but it’s just a dream come true.”
Rookie left-hander Ryan Borucki is proving he’s a stud and almost certainly will be a regular member of the Jays starting rotation next season.
The 24-year-old recorded his third-straight quality start on Sunday against the Yankees.
Borucki pitched seven complete innings against an explosive Yankees roster, leaving the game with the score 1-1. He gave up one run on seven hits, walking two and striking out five.
The Jays lost 2-1 in 10 innings.
Quietly and consistently, Sam Gaviglio is carving a spot for himself on the Jays rotation.
Though he just went 4.1 innings on Friday, Gaviglio allowed just one earned run against the Yankees and now has an ERA of 1.95 in his first five starts at the Rogers Centre as a Blue Jay.
That’s the best five-game home debut for a starter in Jays history