Drew Hutchison is one step closer to the big-league level. The rehabbing right-hander will start at triple-A Friday, the Buffalo Bisons announced.
Hutchison, who is on his way back from Tommy John surgery, has already made rehab starts in the class A Florida State League and the double-A Eastern League this year.
In five rehab appearances, including four starts, Hutchison has posted a 2.76 ERA with 22 strikeouts and eight walks in 16.1 innings.
General manager Alex Anthopoulos recently suggested Hutchison and Kyle Drabek may join the team next month.
“We’re hopeful that guys like Drew and Kyle will get back here in September, though we’re not guaranteeing that,” Anthopoulos said. “They’re both throwing the ball well and their velocity is good. They are two players that, again before they went down, they were throwing well.”
The 22-year-old Hutchison underwent Tommy John surgery last August after being diagnosed with a right ulnar collateral ligament sprain.
He made 11 starts for the Blue Jays in 2012, posting a 4.60 ERA with 49 strikeouts and 20 walks in 58.2 innings. The Blue Jays initially selected him in the 15th round of the 2009 amateur draft.
