NEW YORK – An MRI revealed that Aaron Sanchez has a mild lat strain, the Toronto Blue Jays announced Monday, although manager John Gibbons said he didn’t have a timeline for his right-hander’s return.
Sanchez was placed on the disabled list Sunday retroactive to June 6 and is eligible to return Sunday for his next scheduled turn. Gibbons offered no hints whether or not that’s a possibility, or what the next steps for Sanchez might be.
Scott Copeland was recalled from triple-A Buffalo and will start Tuesday against the New York Mets. Last week against the Miami Marlins, he threw seven innings of one-run ball.
SIGNING SEASON: The Blue Jays confirmed the signing of first-rounder Jon Harris and 29 other draft picks Monday. Harris, the Missouri State right-hander who got top-10 buzz but slipped to No. 29, signed for the slot’s assigned value of $1,944,800.
Second-rounder Brady Singer, a high school righty, and eighth-rounder Danny Young, a University of Florida lefty, are the only top-10 selections that remain unsigned.
JIMENEZ OUT: Blue Jays catching prospect A.J. Jimenez is out for an extended period and may miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery to clean up some cartilage issues in his left wrist.
Jimenez, who posted a .618 OPS in 23 games at triple-A Buffalo, is a strong defensive catcher but has struggled with injuries starting with Tommy John surgery in 2012, and complications from it thereafter.
“His ability is good,” said assistant GM Tony LaCava, who oversees the farm system. “You just wish he could get reps and stay on the field.”
PROPS FOR POMPEY: Outfielder Dalton Pompey was named the Eastern League’s player of the week after hitting three home runs with eight RBIs and a .400 batting average for double-A New Hampshire.
In eight games with the Fisher-Cats overall, he’s 12-for-34 with four homers after posting a .547 OPS in 23 games at triple-A Buffalo. Among the Blue Jays’ considerations in sending Pompey to New Hampshire was reuniting him with hitting coach Stubby Clapp, whom he bonded with at single-A Dunedin last year.
“For him it was a chance to regroup,” said Tony LaCava. “He’s had a lot of success with Stubby, they have a good relationship, and New Hampshire is a place he’s had some success. It’s as much about him relaxing, stop pressing and trying to do too much. That’s probably the biggest thing.”