The Toronto Blue Jays moved Aaron Sanchez to the bullpen of their triple-A affiliate, Sportsnet’s Jeff Blair reported. The move puts the top prospect on track to make his Blue Jays debut as a reliever — perhaps as soon as this month.
Sanchez, 22, has started six games with Toronto’s triple-A Buffalo affiliate since earning a promotion to the Bisons. He has a 4.18 ERA in Buffalo, but has allowed 17 walks in 32.1 innings.
The Blue Jays might be inclined to move Sanchez to the bullpen partly because he faces an undisclosed innings limit. A move to the bullpen could help preserve the arm of Sanchez, who has set a career high with 98.1 total innings pitched in 2014.
Sanchez entered the season as the 32nd ranked prospect in MLB, according to Baseball America. He has yet to pitch in relief this year, but made 14 relief appearances earlier in his career, partly as a way of managing his innings total.
The Blue Jays could also consider promoting top prospect Daniel Norris to help a bullpen that has struggled of late.
